Abstract
To investigate the apoptotic mechanisms in rabbits with blast-induced acute lung injury (ALI). A total of 40 rabbits were randomly divided into a blank control group (A, n=10) and an experimental group (EXP, n=30). Explosion-induced chest-ALI models were prepared and sampled at different time points (4, 12, and 24h after modeling, T1-T3) to test the lung dry weight/wet weight ratio (W/D) and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), apoptosis of lung tissue by the TUNEL assay, and Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, lung tissue was sampled to observe pathological morphology by microscopy. Under a light microscope, Group EXP exhibited obvious edema in the pulmonary interstitial substance and alveoli, a large number of red blood cells, inflammatory cells, and serous exudation in the alveolar cavity, as well as thickening of the pulmonary interstitial fluid. Compared to Group A, the W/D ratio was significantly increased in Group EXP (P<0.01), while PaO2 was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The apoptosis index was significantly increased (P<0.01), and caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 levels were increased (P<0.01). Apoptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of acute lung injury in rabbits by participating in lung injury and promoting the progression of ALI.
Highlights
Acute lung injury (ALI), as a cause of death in explosive blast casualties[1], is a complex clinical syndrome involving acute inflammation, microvascular damage, and increased pulmonary vascular and epithelial permeability, which results in fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)[2]
The most widely accepted definition of ALI/ARDS is based on the American-European Consensus Conference definition of acute onset respiratory failure with bilateral infiltrates on chest radiograph and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
Light microscopy revealed that the alveolar septum was larger, alveolar cavity was relatively narrowed, and normal alveolar structure was destroyed, together with edema and exudation in the alveolar cavity and pulmonary interstitial substance; some sites exhibited bleeding accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration (Figure 1)
Summary
Acute lung injury (ALI), as a cause of death in explosive blast casualties[1], is a complex clinical syndrome involving acute inflammation, microvascular damage, and increased pulmonary vascular and epithelial permeability, which results in fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)[2]. The most widely accepted definition of ALI/ARDS is based on the American-European Consensus Conference definition of acute onset respiratory failure with bilateral infiltrates on chest radiograph and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
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