Protective Effects Of Ulinastatin Combined With Dexamethasone On Acute Lung Injury Induced By Endotoxin In Rabbits

Objective:To study the protective effects of ulinastatin(UTI) combinedwith dexamethasone(DEX) on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury inrabbits and its possible mechanisms.Material and methods:Fourty New Zealand rabbits were randomlydivided into five groups with 8 rabbits each:normal controls(C); LPSgroup(L); UTI group(U); DEX group(D); UTI combined with DEXgroup(T). Except group C, all rabbits of other groups were injected a doseof LPS 600μg/kg iv. Meanwhile group U,D and T received UTI(100000μ/kg) or/and DEX(5 mg/kg). The specimens were collected 4 h laterfor detecting the levels of TNF-αand NO in serum and blood gasanalysis, histological manifestations, the lung wet/dry weight ratio, lungtissue MPO and SOD activity, lung tissue MDA.Results:(1)Compared with group L, the levels of TNF-αand NO, thelung wet/dry weight ratio, lung tissue MPO activity and MDA of groupU, D and T decreased significantly.(2) Compared with group L, lungtissue SOD activity and blood gas analysis of group U, D and T improvedsignificantly. (3) Compared with group U and D, group T improved moresignificantly.(4) Compared with group N, the lungs of the rabbits in group L had significant spotty hemorrhage. The inflammatory granulocyteinfiltrating, diffused alveolar septum thickening and spotty hemorrhagewere observed in pathological examinations.The histological changes ofGroup U, D and T were better than those in group L.Conclusion:Ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone has a betterprotective effect on acute lung injury induced by endotoxin, which isprobably related to reducing the inflammation mediator and oxyradicalrelease and inhibiting the reaction of enzymes.