The protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on hyperoxia and ventilator induced acute lung injury in rats

Objective To study the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on hyperoxia and ventilator induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A received large tidal volume with room air, group B received large tidal volume with 100% O2, group C was interfered with N-acetylcysteine. Arterial blood gases were measured every one hour to calculate oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2). Wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) of left lung was counted. WBCs, neutrophils, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MIP-2 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the lung were assayed respectively.Results PaO2/FiO2 increased significantly in group C than that in group B. W/D of left lung, WBCs, neutrophils, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MIP-2 levels in BALF, MDA levels in the lung were significantly lower, but the levels of SOD significantly increased in group C than those in group B.Conclusions N-acetylcysteine has obviously protective effects on hyperoxia and ventilator induced ALI in rats.