Respiratory mechanics do not always mirror pulmonary histological changes in emphysema

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 66; no. 10; pp. 1797 - 1803
• Main Authors: Anciães, Adriana Martins, Olivo, Clarice Rosa, Prado, Carla Máximo, Kagohara, Keila H, da Silva Pinto, Tatiana, Moriya, Henrique T, Mauad, Thais, de Arruda Martins, Mílton, dos Santos Lopes, Fernanda Degobbi Tenorio Quirino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: United States Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.01.2011; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina / USP; Elsevier España
• Subjects: Animal model; Animals; Basic Research; Collagen - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Elastic Tissue - metabolism; Emphysema; Immunohistochemistry; Lung - pathology; Lung - physiopathology; Macrophages - metabolism; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 12 - metabolism; Mean linear intercept; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Papain; Parenchyma remodeling; Pulmonary Emphysema - chemically induced; Pulmonary Emphysema - pathology; Pulmonary Emphysema - physiopathology; Respiratory mechanics; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Time Factors; Animal model; Respiratory mechanics; Emphysema; Parenchyma remodeling; Mean linear intercept
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322011001000020

: To verify the accordance of functional and morphometric parameters during the development of emphysema. : BALB/c mice received a nasal drop of either papain or saline solution and were studied after 1, 3, 15, 28, and 40 days. Functional parameters, such as airway resistance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance, were analyzed. To evaluate the structural changes and possible mechanisms involved in this disease, we measured the mean linear intercept, the volume proportions of elastic and collagen fibers, the number of macrophages, the numbers of cells expressing metalloprotease 12 and 8-isoprostane in lung parenchyma. : We only observed decreases in tissue elastance and tissue damping on the 28th day, with a concomitant increase in the mean linear intercept, indicating the presence of emphysema. However, only the mean linear intercept values remained increased until the 40th day. The volume proportion of collagen fibers was increased from the 15th day to the 40th day, whereas the volume proportion of elastic fibers was only increased on the 40th day. The number of macrophages increased beginning on the 1st day. The expression of metalloproteinase 12 was increased from the 3rd day until the 40th day. However, 8-isoprostane expression was only increased on the 1st and 3rd days. : In this study, morphometric parameters were found to be more reliable for detecting the presence of emphysema than the functional parameters measured by respiratory mechanics. Further investigations are necessary to understand how the extracellular matrix remodeling observed in the lung parenchyma could be involved in this process.