Ojective To establish a rat model of hyperoxia induced acute lung injury. Methods Eighty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into an air group and a hyperoxia group ( ≥95% O2 ) .Each group was further divided into 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h subgroups. Arterial blood gas was monitored. Lung tissue was sampled for evaluation of lung wet to dry ratio, lung index, and pulmonary permeation index. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) was collected for measurement of lactatedehydrogenase ( LDH) activity and white blood cell count ( WBC) . Results After hyperoxia exposure for 48 ～60 h, lung pathology showed alveolar structure disruption, lung parenchyma wrath bleeding and edema.Lung wet to dry ratio, lung index, pulmonary permeation index, LDH and WBC in BALF all increased significantly, peaked at 48 h and remained at high level at 60 h while PaO2 dropped progressively.Conclusion Exposure to ≥ 95% O2 for 48 ～60 h can successfully establish the rat model of hyperoxia induced acute lung injury.
Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin ( rHuEPO) on expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in hyperoxia-induced lung injury of adult rats. Methods Fortyeight healthy male SD adult rats were randomly divided into six groups. The control group ( 0 h) breathed with room air. The rHuEPO intervention group was put into oxygen chamber and breathed with 100% O2 for 96 h plus intraperitoneal injection of rHuEPO (1000 U/kg) daily. Other four groups were put into oxygen chamber and breathed with 100% O2 for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h respectively. Arterial blood gases were measured to calculate oxygenation index. Wet-to-dry weight ratios of left lung were measured. The contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assayed with radioimmunoassay. The expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the lung were determined withWestern blot and immunohistochemisty. The changes of lung histopathology were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin stain and observed under light microscope. Results After breathing 100% O2 , the oxygenation index decreased gradually and reached minimal value at 96 h. The wet-to-dry weight ratio of left lung increased gradually and reached maximal value at 96 h. The contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in BALF reached maximal value at 48 h and then decreased gradually. The expression of Bax protein increased, but the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased gradually in the lung. Compared with the 96 h group, the oxygenation index was higher, wet-to-dry weight ratio and contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in BALF decreased, the expression of Bax protein decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased in the lung of the rHuEPO group. Conclusion rHuEPO can attenuate hyperoxia-induced lung injury of adult rats by down-regulating expression of Bax protein and up-regulating expression of Bcl-2 protein.