The effects of pentoxifylline on lung inflammation in a rat model of meconium aspiration syndrome

• Published in: Experimental lung research Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 250 - 255
• Main Authors: Turhan, Ali Haydar, At c, Aytu, Mu lu, Necati, Polat, Ay e, Helvac, lter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.06.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Arteries - drug effects; Arteries - metabolism; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lung - drug effects; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; meconium; Meconium - metabolism; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - drug therapy; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - metabolism; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome - pathology; newborn; pentoxifylline; Pentoxifylline - pharmacology; Pneumonia - drug therapy; Pneumonia - metabolism; Pneumonia - pathology; rat; Rats; Rats, Wistar; respiratory distress; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0190-2148; 1521-0499; 1521-0499
• DOI: 10.3109/01902148.2012.676704

ABSTRACT To examine the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on regional pulmonary and systemic inflammation after meconium aspiration, we studied 26 anesthetized and ventilated adult rats for 3 hours. Seventeen rats were instilled with human meconium (1.5 mL/kg, 65 mg/mL) intratracheally. After instillation of meconium, PTX (20 mg/kg, i.a.; n = 9) or saline (n = 8) was given to the subjects. Nine rats that were ventilated and not instilled with meconium served as sham group. Meconium instillation resulted in increased bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; P = 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively), protein (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively) levels, and arterial oxygenation index (OI) in PTX and saline groups. PTX treatment prevented the increase of BAL fluid TNF-α, protein concentrations, and OI in the meconium-instilled lungs but had no statistically significant effect. These results indicate that meconium aspiration induces severe inflammation in the lung. PTX treatment affects the TNF-α production in the lungs and it may attenuate meconium-induced derangements.