Oxygen radical-mediated lung damage associated with alpha-naphthylthiourea.

Lungs were damaged with alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) and various compounds were used to block its effect. Although the results are variable, superoxide dismutase, catalase and dimethylsulfoxide all protected against ANTU, indicating that OH radicals are responsible for this type of lung injury. Leukocytes do not appear to be required for the damage to occur; however, hydroxurea (given over 2 days) did block the ANTU damage when neutrophils were decreased to 1/2 normal values or when administered acutely. The free radicals may be generated by the cyclooxygenase pathway since ibuprofen blocked the ANTU damage, whereas blocking xanthine oxidase using allopurinol failed to prevent the lung damage.