Effects on the Levels of Nitric Oxide and Endothelin-l of Lung Tissue and Plasma in Rabbits with Acute Lung Injury Using the Decoction of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Antipyretic and Relieving Internal Fever.

Objective:To explore the effects on the levels of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) and its potential functions in rabbits acute lung injury(ALI) using the decoction of traditional Chinese medicines of antipyretic and relieving internal fever.Methods:The ALI model was induced by injecting E.Coli endotoxin at twice with an interval of 24 hours.Results:NO and ET-1 levels in plasma, lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) increased significantly(P(0.01)) in ALI group.WBC in BALF, lung index,and lung permeability index(LPI) also increased significantly(P0.01).In ALI group, the levels plasma NO and ET-1, but their temporal dynamics were different. The increase of plasma NO and IL-8 concentration reached its peak at 120 min after endotoxin injection. While plasma ET-1 concentration increased much earlier at 60 min post-endotoxin and its plasma concentration had reached its peak level, then waned, but restored that level approach to normal rabbit at 6 hours post-injury in lung.Conclusion:NO and ET-1 might be an important liquit factor in different phases of ALI.All NO and ET-1 maybe involve in pathogenesis of ALI.