Protective effects of vitamin C on acute lung injury induced by lipapalysacchharide in mouse

Objective To investigate the protective effects of vitamin C on the acute lung injury induced by lipapalysacchharide (LPS)in mice. Methods Models of acute lung injury(ALI)in mice were induced by lipopolysacchharide.Twenty-four SD mice weighing 180 ～200 g were randomly divided into 3 groups with 8 animals each:control group received only normal saline;LPS group received intravenous LPS 5 mg/kg;vitamin C(VitC) group received VitC 4 ml/kg infusion 2 min after intravenous LPS 5 mg/kg. The mice were killed at 4 hr after intravenous LPS or normal saline administration.The lung was used for measurement of wet/dry lung weight ratio and myeloperoxiase(MPO)activity, content of malondialdehyde(MDA),pathologic changes of lung tissue were observed microscopically. Results Obvious ALI pathological manifestation in the lung of LPS group mice was observed compared with NS group; wet/dry lung weight ratio and MPO activity in lungs increased significantly in LPS group(P0.05) as well as the content of MDA (P0.05).Compared with LPS group, the pathological manifestation in lungs was ameliorated and wet/dry lung weight ratio,MPO activity and content of MDA decreased significantly in VitC group(P0.05). Conclusions Large doses of vitamin C(500 mg/kg)has preventive effect on acute lung injury.