Effects of hyperoxic exposure on the pulmonary eicosanoid profile and the relationship to the oxidant-induced lung pathology in neonatal rats

he role of eicosanoids in the pathogenesis of Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was investigated by exposing neonatal rats to hyperoxia. A novel lung explant technique was developed to elucidate the in vivo pulmonary eicosanoid production during hyperoxic exposure.;The lung injury produced by the hyperoxic exposure protocol reflected the characteristic exudative, hypoplastic phase followed by a hyperplastic, fibrotic repair phase. In conjunction with this sequence of pulmonary injury, hyperoxia caused a progressive alteration in the capacity of the lung to produce the individual eicosanoids. It is speculated that the relative balance between the eicosanoids is an important determinant in the pathogenesis of pulmonary oxygen toxicity. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).;Following 7 days of hyperoxia, basal and stimulated outputs of the 3 eicosanoids measured were elevated (p...