Protective effect of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of α-naphthylthiourea-induced acute lung injury.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We assessed the effects of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of α-naphthylthiourea (ANTU)-induced acute lung injury.

METHODS:

Forty Wistar Albino male rats weighing 200-240 g were divided into 5 groups (n = 8 each), including a control group. Thus, there were one ANTU group and three dexmedetomidine groups (10-, 50-, and 100-μg/kg treatment groups), plus a control group. The control group provided the normal base values. The rats in the ANTU group were given 10 mg/kg of ANTU intraperitoneally and the three treatment groups received 10, 50, or 100 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine intraperitoneally 30 min before ANTU application. The rat body weight (BW), pleural effusion (PE), and lung weight (LW) of each group were measured 4 h after ANTU administration. The histopathologic changes were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTS:

The mean PE, LW, LW/BW, and PE/BW measurements in the ANTU group were significantly greater than in the control groups and all dexmedetomidine treatment groups (P < 0.05). There were also significant decreases in the mean PE, LW, LW/BW and PE/BW values in the dexmedetomidine 50-μg/kg group compared with those in the ANTU group (P < 0.01). The inflammation, hemorrhage, and edema scores in the ANTU group were significantly greater than those in the control or dexmedetomidine 50-μg/kg group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Dexmedetomidine treatment has demonstrated a potential benefit by preventing ANTU-induced acute lung injury in an experimental rat model. Dexmedetomidine could have a potential protective effect on acute lung injury in intensive care patients.

• Authors: Volkan Hanci, Gamze Yurdakan, Serhan Yurtlu, Işil Özkoçak Turan, Emine Yilmaz Sipahi
• Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res) Vol. 178 Issue 1 Pg. 424-30 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1095-8673 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22445456 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
• Rodenticides
• Dexmedetomidine
• Thiourea
• alpha-naphthyl thiourea

Topics

• Acute Lung Injury (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Dexmedetomidine (pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Interactions
• Lung (drug effects)
• Male
• Pleural Effusion (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Pneumonia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Pulmonary Edema (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Rodenticides (toxicity)
• Thiourea (analogs & derivatives, toxicity)