Study on the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats

Objective This study aimed at investigating the activity of NFκB and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in lung tissue of acute paraquat poisoned rats.Methods 80 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats weighing 180 g to 200 g were randomly divided into two experimental groups: Poisoned group and Control group.At 1,3,7,14,21,28 and 35 days after exposure,lung pathological changes of ten rats were observed,NF-κB activity in the lung tissues was assessed by electrophoresis mobility shift assay(EMSA),and expression of iNOS mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR.Results Compared with that in control group,NF-κB activity in lung tissue of Poisoned group was elevated at the first day,reached the peak at the third day,return to normal level at the 21th day;and expression of iNOS mRNA in lung tissue of Poisoned group markedly increased at the first day,reached the peak at the 7th day,decreased slowly afterwards,return to normal level at the 28th day.Conclusions NF-κB and iNOS could play an important role in lung injury of poisoned rats.