The protective effects of reduced glutathione on ventilator-induced lung injury in rats

Objective To investigate the protective effects of reduced glutathione on ventilator-induced lung injury(VILI) in rats.Methods 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=8 each): group A received room air without mechanical ventilation;group B received mechanical ventilation of large tidal volume(VT) with room air;group C was treated with mechanical ventilation of large tidal volume with room air plus reduced glutathione.The set parameters of mechanical ventilation in groups B and C: VT=30 ml/kg,breathing rate=40 times/min,and time of ventilation=4 h.Arterial blood gases were measured hourly to calculate oxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2).Rats were sacrificed and the lung lavage liquid and lung tissue were collected and stored with correct methods.The measured indexes including total protein,WBCs and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),wet-to-dry weight ratio(W/D) of lung,malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) levels in the lung were assayed,respectively.Lung pathological changes and the expressions of Fas/FasL proteins were observed by microscopy.Results Compared with group A,total protein,W/D,WBCs,TNF-α,MDA and the expression of Fas/FasL proteins significantly increased in group B,while the levels of SOD,and PaO2/FiO2 at 3 h after ventilation significantly decreased.Compared with group B,total protein,W/D,WBCs,TNF-α,MDA and expressions of Fas/FasL proteins decreased in group C,and the levels of SOD and PaO2/FiO2 increased.Conclusion Reduced glutathione has certain protective effect on ventilator-induced lung injury.