An experimental research of apoptosis and oxidative stress in sulfur mustard-induced lung injury

Abstract

Objective To establish rat model of pulmonary injury induced by sulfur mustard (SM) to investigate the apoptosis and oxidative stress in the injured lung.Methods 72 male rats were selected,then randomly divided into SM group (n =32),propylene glycol group (n =32),and normal control group (n =8).The rats in SM group were injected intratracheally diluted SM (2 mg/kg,0.1 ml),the rats in propylene glycol group were injected intratracheally propylene glycol 0.1 ml,meanwhile the status quo was kept with the normal control group.Then the SM-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress were observed by electron microscope,immunohistochemical staining,and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) examination.Results SM group:①The content of lactate dehydrogenase and glutathione peroxidase in BALF peaked in 6h.②There was local defect of cellular membrane in alveolar epithelial type Ⅰ cells,while microvilli missed as well as disarranged in alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells.The appearance of ribosome detached from rough endoplasmic reticulum,and illegibility of mitochondrial cristae were observed in both types of cells.③Apoptosis was observed significantly increasing in the alveolar septum.Results in the propylene glycol group was the same with those in the normal control group.Conclusions Apoptosis and oxidative stress are two main mechanism characteristics of SM (2 mg/kg) induced pulmonary injury in rats. Key words: Sulfur mustard; Rat ; Pulmonary injury ; Apoptosis ; Oxidative stress