Abstract
Neutrophil sequestration within the pulmonary microvasculature contributes to the pathogenesis of various types of lung injury. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that nitroglycerin, a vasodilator, could decrease neutrophil sequestration within the hamster lung, and thus lead to reduction of bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and injury. Nitroglycerin in an ointment base or petroleum jelly was dermally applied twice daily to the backs of hamsters which were given a single dose of bleomycin or 0.9% NaCl intratracheally. Nitroglycerin significantly reduced the bleomycin-induced increase in neutrophil sequestration in the lungs as indicated by a decrease in the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and by both BALF and tissue myeloperoxidase activity. Similarly, nitroglycerin significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced increases in protein content and acid phosphatase activity in the BALF supernatant. There was a marginal, but nonstatistically significant, reduction of bleomycin-induced increases in lung hydroxyproline content and malondialdehyde production by nitroglycerin. It was concluded that nitroglycerin, acting presumably by inducing pulmonary vasodilation, caused a marked reduction in the bleomycin-induced neutrophil sequestration and thus offered protection against the vascular leakage and lung injury in the model.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 249-261 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Inflammopharmacology |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1992 |
Keywords
- bleomycin
- hamster lung
- myeloperoxidase
- neutrophils
- nitroglycerin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology (medical)