Lung injury and inflammation response by chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats

摘要

BackgroundChronic intermittent hypoxia is the primary pathophsiological feature of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. The characteristics of CIH can be imitated by animal experiment models thus to study CIH related systemic organ injuries, including respiratory systems. MethodsSixteen male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: CIH group ( n =?8) and control group ( n =?8). The CIH group was exposed to intermittent hypoxia circumstance for 5?weeks (8?h/day) and control group was placed in the same animal chamber exposed to normal air circumstance. Between the two groups, the inflammatory factors of IL-6 and TNF-α within serum and BALF were measured by ELISA; the structure and ultrastructure of lungs were evaluated by HE staining and electronmicroscopy. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in lung tissue was detected by Western blot. ResultsThe concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum in CIH group increased significantly (138.63?±?43.82 vs. 41.82?±?5.24?pg/ml and 126.62?±?34.81 vs. 73.43?±?5.72?pg/ml, both P P P P ConclusionsAnimal experiment model can be used to imitate the?pathophysiologic changes of CIH. There are systematic and local airway inflammation coexisting in CIH rats. CIH leads to inflammatory cell infiltration and organelle damages within lung tissues. We speculated that there was some correlation between inflammation and lung damages in CIH rats.