Protection effect of adsorbent on paraquat plasma concentrations in rats with paraquat intoxication

Objective To evaluate the effects of smecta and activated charcoal on lung injury, paraquat(PQ) plasma concentrations and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in rats with paraquat intoxication, and investigate its mechanism. Methods Seventy-eight SD rats were randomly divided into group A, group B, group C and group D. Group B, C, D were treated intragastrically with PQ at 60 mg/kg, group C was given smecta and group D was given activated charcoal, only saline was treated intragastrically in group A and group B. Live rats in each group were sacrificed at 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours, for the HE staining of lung, the paraquat plasma concentrations and TGF-β1 in plasma of rats were determined. Results Lung pathological injuries of rats in group B such as large area congestion, severe edema, the larger number of leukocyte infiltration were remarkable. Compared with group B, pathological injury of group C alleviated significantly. The levels of paraquat plasma concentrations and TGF-β1 increased at 6 hours after paraquat intoxication in group B, group C and group D, and peaked at 72 hours later, with significant difference from group A (P all<0.05); Compared with group B, delayed, lower increasing extent, obviously reducing tendency in group C and D, there was significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusions Smecta and activated charcoal can reduce lung injury by decreasing paraquat plasma concentrations and the expression of TGF-β1, and the protection effect of smecta is better. Key words: Paraquat; Smecta; Activated charcoal; Lung injury; Plasma concentration; Transforming growth factor-β1