Protective effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and zafirlukast on acute lung injury.

Objective: To observe the preventive and cure effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and zafirlukast on acute lung injury.Methods:32 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8): control group(CG),injury group(IG),N-acetyl-L-cysteine treated group(NG) and zafirlukast treated group(ZG).Lipopolysaccharide(LPS,1 ml/kg) and saline(1 ml/kg) was injected into IG and CG group,respectively.N-acetyl-L-cysteine(300 mg/kg) was given 2 min before LPS(1 ml/kg) injection in NG group while zafirlukast(20 mg/kg) was given 0.5 h and 1 h before LPS(1 ml/kg) injection,respectively.The pulmonary arterial pressure,PaO2,WBC,NO2-concentration in the BALF,lung index(wet weight /body weight) and lung's wet /dry weight ratio(W/D) were detected in each group.Results:There were significant differences of the pulmonary arterial pressure and NO2-concentration between NG and IG group(P0.05).PaO2 in two treated groups was significantly improved compared with IG group(P0.05).Lung index and W/D ratio were significantly lower and WBC was higher in two treated groups than those in IG group(P0.05).Conclusion:N-acetyl-L-cysteine and zafirlukast can prevent rabbits from acute lung injury induced by the endotoxin.