Effects of Pentoxifylline on Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Lung

Objective To study the effect of pentoxifylline protects against ischemia reperfusion injury to lung. Methods The rat ischemia model with occlusion of left pulmonary hilus for 45 minutes was used in this experiment. Seventy two rats were divided into three groups.Group Ⅰ( n =24): No ischemia; group Ⅱ ( n =24): Ischemia reperfusion; group Ⅲ ( n =24):Pentoxifylline intravenous injection at 5 minutes before ischemia and after 45 minutes of normothermic ischemia. The changes of left lung water indices, malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and albumin in the injured lung and brochoalveolar lavage fluid were studied at the time of 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours reperfusion after 45 minutes of pulmonary ischemia. Results Group Ⅱ partial pressure of oxygen in artery decreased evidently in 2 hours and 4 hours after reperfusion, left lung water indices, the contents of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and albumin increased evidently at different time points after reperfusion ( P 0 05). Group Ⅲ, the changes were ameliorated compared with group Ⅱ. Conclusion Pentoxifylline prevented ischemia reperfusion lung endothelium injury and improved postischemia reperfusion lung function by decreasing neutrophil lung sequestration.