To investigate the protective effects of
oxymatrine (OMT) on lung
ischemia reperfusion injury (LIRI) in rabbits, models of LIRI in rabbit were used. Thirty-two rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control group (n = 8),
ischemia reperfusion group (I/R group, n = 8), OMTl group (n = 8), OMT2 group (n = 8). Lung tissue samples were collected at 40, 80, 120 min time-points after lung
ischemia reperfusion. TNF-α, 1I-8,
IL-10, apoptosis index (AI), and index of quantitative assessment of histologic
lung injury (IQA) were measured in each group. TNF-α and
IL-8 in I/R group were significantly higher than those of the control group and OMT2 group (P < 0.01), but in OMT2 group they were significantly lower than those of OMTl group (P < 0.05).
IL-10 in OMT2 group and OMTl group was significantly higher than that of I/R group (P < 0.01). But in OMTl group it was significantly lower than that of OMT2 group (P < 0.05). AI in I/R group was significantly higher than that of OMT2 group and the control group at 80 min after lung
ischemia reperfusion (P < 0.01). IQA in OMTl group and OMT2 group was significantly lower than that of the I/R group (P < 0.01).
Oxymatrine can protect against LIRI in rabbits by upregulating levels of
IL-10 and downregulating levels of TNF-α and
IL-8, inhibiting the alveolar cells apoptosis and inflammatory response, and attenuating the acute LIRI.