Objective: To determine pulmonary surfactant changes in acute lung injury of adult rats with ischemia-reperfusion of intestine. Methods: Healthy S-D rats (bw 200-250 g) were anesthetized and divided into 3 groups (n=8-9): (1) laparotomy only as control; (2) ischemia due to occlusion of mesenteric artery for 1 h; and (3) ischemia 1 h as group 2 followed by reperfusion for 2 h (I/R). At the end of the experiment the chest was opened. The left lung was used for measurements of dry/wet weight ratio(D/W) and histopathology, whileas the right lung was lavaged. Disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), total phospholipids (TPL) and total proteins (TP) in the lavage fluid, and lipid peroxides (LPS) in serum was determined. Results: (see table, means±SD) Microscopically, edema, hemorrhage and atelectasis was more prominent in the animal lungs of group 3. Conclusion: I/R resulted in severe lung injuries, decrease of DSPC, increase of protein in alveolar space and lipid peroxidase in serum which may lead to a secondary surfactant deficiency and dysfunction.

Table 1
Full size table

(Supported by China Medical Board, and Shanghai Education Foundation)