Protective Effects of Ulinastatin in Rabbits with Paraquat-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Objective To evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of ulinastatin in rabbits with paraquat-induced acute lung injury. Methods Thirty rabbits were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups:control group,paraquat group and ulinastatin group.Peritoneal paraquat injection were performed in paraquat group and ulinastatin group,while equal volume of saline was peritonealy injected in control group.Three days later,the number of inflammatory cells and neutrophil elastase(NE) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the extravascular lung water volume were measured.Results Total cells,neutrophilic granulocytes,macrophage and NE in BALF and the extravascular lung water volume were significantly increased in paraquat group and ulinastatin group (P0.05).But their levels were lower in ulinastatin group than in paraquat group. (P0.05).Conclusion In paraquat-induced acute lung injury rabbit models,Ulinastatin can alleviate inflammatory response and lung injury,inhibit NE and possess potential protective effects.