Study on pathological feature of acute lung injury model induced by seawater drowning in rabbits

Objective To observe the pathological features of seawater drowning induced acute lung injury(SWD-ALI) model in rabbits. Methods The animal model of SWD-ALI was established firstly. Then rabbits of SWD-ALI group and control group were sacrificed to gain lung tissues for pathology examination.Semi-quantitative analysis was used in the examination on histological changes of SWD-ALI lung tissues.Results The histological study showed that in the experimental group, the downward sites of lungs appeared congested and edematous,which was called hepatization. On cut surface,the lesions became dark red with the effusion of reddish edematous fluid. Microscopically,the alveolar septa became markedly damaged and the fusion of alveoli appeared. Alveoli and lung parenchyma were edematous. The inflammatory cells infiltrated into the lung parenchyma and alveolar cavities. Conclusions The broken alveolar septa and inflammatory cells infiltration are the main pathological features of SWD-ALI, which are different from the other ALIs whose histological features are the edematous alveoli and lung parenchyma. Key words: Acute lung injury; Seawater;  Pathology