Effects of Ambroxol Hydrochloride on Lung Tissue Cell Apoptosis and Vascular Remodeling in Rats with Smoke Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of ambroxol hydrochloride on lung tissue cell apoptosis and vascular remodeling in rats with smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal, model, experimental and control groups (n=20). The rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was established by fumigation using Yan’an Cigarettes for 64 d. After fumigation, the experimental and control groups were subcutaneously injected with 5 mL of Ambroxol hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) and 5 mL of Bambuterol hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) respectively, while the normal and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with an equal dose of normal saline. Following drug intervention for 28 d, the pathological changes in lung tissues, vascular remodeling, lung tissue cell apoptosis, expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor, as well as levels of caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining, elastic Van Gieson staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, immunohistochemical staining and western blotting, respectively. Compared with normal group, the damage of lung tissues was obvious, the medial thickness of pulmonary arterioles significantly increased, the degree of vascular muscularization, apoptosis rate and expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin, vascular endothelial growth factor, caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein rose and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 decreased in model group (p<0.05). Compared with model group, the damage of lung tissues was significantly improved, the medial thickness of pulmonary arterioles decreased, the degree of vascular muscularization, apoptosis rate and expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin, vascular endothelial growth factor, caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein reduced and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 rose in experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Ambroxol hydrochloride can inhibit the apoptosis of lung tissue cells and improve vascular remodeling, thereby protecting the lung tissues of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rats.