Effect of aerosolized perfluorocarbon on the tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression and lung histopathology in rabbits with acute lung injury

Objective To investigate the effect of aerosolized perfluorocarbon (PFC) (FC77) on gas exchange,histopathological changes of lung in acute lung injury and pulmonary expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA.Methods After acute lung injury (ALI) was induced by oleic acid (OA),16 rabbits were assigned randomly into 2 groups,ie.aerosolized perfluorocarbon group (PFC group) and conventional mechanical ventilation group (CMV group).Gas exchange parameters were measured before and after ALI,at 1,2,3,4 h after treatment.Histological sections taken from 6 different parts of lung were stained by hematoxylin and eosion.The express of TNF-α mRNA in the 2 different parts of lung were detected by in situ hybridization (ISH).Results Compared with CMV group,the PaO_2 and static lung compliance (C_ Lst ) were significantly increased (P0.05) ,the histopathological lesions of lung were attenuated,and the TNF-α mRNA expression was decreased significantly in PFC group (all P0.05).There was more expression of TNF-α mRNA in backside than that in foreside of lung in two groups (P0.05).Conclusion Aerosolized perfluorocarbon (PFC) can decrease expression of tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA in the lung,and improve the C_ Lst and oxygenation during acute lung injury.