Our hypothesis in this study is that
desferrioxamine (DFX) has
therapeutic effects on experimental lung
contusions in rats. The rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, control+DFX,
contusion, and contusion+DFX. In the control+DFX and contusion+DFX groups, 100 mg/kg DFX was given intraperitoneally once a day just after the
contusion and the day after the
contusion.
Contusions led to a meaningful rise in the
malondialdehyde (MDA) level in lung tissue. MDA levels in the contusion+DFX group experienced a significant decline.
Glutathione levels were significantly lower in the
contusion group than in the control group and significantly higher in the contusion+DFX group.
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and
superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the
contusion group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In the contusion+DFX group, SOD and GPx levels were significantly higher than those in the
contusion group. In light microscopic evaluation, the
contusion and contusion+DFX groups showed
edema,
hemorrhage, alveolar destruction, and leukocyte infiltration. However, histological scoring of the contusion+DFX group was significantly more positive than that of the
contusion group. The iNOS staining in the
contusion group was significantly more intensive than that in all other groups. DFX reduced iNOS staining significantly in comparison to the
contusion group. This study showed that DFX reduced oxidative stress in lung
contusions in rats and histopathologically ensured the recovery of the lung tissue.