Abstract
We studied the morphological elements associated with airway and pulmonary tissue responses to capsaicin in mechanically ventilated guinea pigs. Lungs were excised and frozen in liquid nitrogen 3 and 20 min after capsaicin infusion (1 or 100 μg/kg i.v.). Using image analysis, we obtained contraction index (CI) and peribronchial edema area (CUFF) for both central (C) and peripheral airways (P). We also assessed alveolar size (mean linear intercepts, L m) and tissue distortion (standard deviation of the number of intercepts, SDI). Multiple regression analysis showed significant associations between pulmonary tissue resistance (R ti) and CUFFP ( p<0.001); pulmonary dynamic elastance and SDI ( p=0.002); and airway resistance and CUFFC ( p<0.0001). Our results suggest that increases in R ti observed in guinea pigs after capsaicin infusion are primarily dependent on changes in the small airways, mainly peribronchiolar edema; the increase in lung elastance is related to distortion of parenchymal tissues; and large airway edema contributes significantly to airway resistance.
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