Effect of chloromethyl ketone on the progression of elastase-induced emphysema in hamsters.

Intratracheal administration of an elastase inhibitor (Succinyl alanyl alanyl prolyl valine chloromethyl ketone) into hamsters 20 days after induction of emphysema by porcine pancreatic elastase did not affect the lesion seen at 120 days. This study suggests that the progressive increase in lung volume between 20 and 120 days after emphysema induction was not due to a residue of active elastase in the lungs.