To evaluate the effect of deferoxamine on hyperoxic lung injury in rats.

Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 170-230 g, were divided into 3 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table method: hyperoxia group (group H), deferoxamine group (group D) and air control group (group C). Mechanical ventilation was performed after tracheal intubation, group C inhaled air, and H and D groups inhaled 90% oxygen.Deferoxamine 50 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 was continuously infused via the tail vein for 4 h via the tail vein at the same time of mechanical ventilation in group D. The equal volume of normal saline was infused in H and C groups.At 4 h of mechanical ventilation, lungs were removed for examination of pathological changes of lung tissues and for determination of wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) and levels of pulmonary surfactant protein C (SP-C), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) in lung tissues and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Compared with group C, the pathological score of lung tissues and W/D ratio were significantly increased, the levels of SP-C and GR in lung tissues and BALF were decreased, and the level of XOD in lung tissues and BALF was increased in H and D groups (P<0.05). Compared with group H, the pathological score of lung tissues and W/D ratio were significantly decreased, the levels of SP-C and GR in lung tissues and BALF were increased, and the level of XOD in lung tissues and BALF was decreased in group D (P<0.05).

Deferoxamine can inhibit oxidative stress response and alleviate hyperoxic lung injury in rats.

Deferoxamine; Hyperoxia; Lung injury