[Protective effects of ulinastatin on ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rabbit lung in traumatic hemorrhagic shock].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of ulinastatin on activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissue and neutrophil elastase (NE) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and to evaluate the protective effects of ulinastatin on rabbit lung in traumatic hemorrhagic shock.

METHODS

Thirty rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: control group, traumatic hemorrhagic shock group and ulinastatin-treatment group. The traumatic hemorrhagic shock model was reproduced by producing: femur fracture and femoral artery bleeding to reduce the mean artery pressure to (40+/-5) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The hypotension was maintained 90 minutes before the shed blood and equivalent amount of Ringer's lactate was infused. Four hours after blood volume compensation, the activities of MPO in lung tissue and NE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured, and the extravascular lung water volume was determined.

RESULTS

Compared with control group, the activities of either MPO in lung tissue or NE in BALF appeared to be increased in the ulinastatin-treatment group (both P<0.05), but their levels were significantly higher in traumatic hemorrhagic shock group(both P<0.05). The extravascular lung water volume was increased significantly in the two experimental group (both P<0.05), however it was more pronounced in traumatic hemorrhagic shock group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ulinastatin can inhibit the increase in the activities of MPO in lung tissue and NE in BALF, and possesses potential protective effects on the lung tissue in traumatic hemorrhagic shock.