Magnitud del enfisema inducido por elastasa: Posible relación con el tipo de daño agudo pulmonar

Abstract

Introduction: Intratracheal instillation of elastase induces diffuse alveolar damage and emphysema development. However, the Syrian Golden hamster develops more severe emphysema than the Sprague-Dawley rat. Although it is known that early events after elastase instillation determine the magnitude of emphysema development, it is not known if there are species differences in the initial pattern of lung response to elastase. Objective: To evaluate whether rats and hamster differ in the early lung response to elastase, using biochemical markers of acute lung injury. Results: Whereas the rat shows a large increase in alveolar-capillary permeability and few hemorrhagic changes, the hamster shows significant amount of hemorrhage and a small increase in alveolar capillary permeability. Conclusions: There are differences between rats and hamsters in the initial lung response to elastase that could influence the magnitude of emphysema development.