Beneficial Effects Of Inhaled Nitric Oxide On Lung Pathology And Energy Metabolism In A Canine Model Of Smoke Inhalation Injury

摘要

Nitric oxide (NO) exhibits positive effects in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI); angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has been indicated as a marker of pulmonary endothelium damage in ALI. We examined the effects of inhaled NO on ACE activity, pulmonary pathology and energy metabolism in a canine model of smoke inhalation injury. Following smoke exposure, 17 dogs were randomly assigned to receive a mixture of NO (45 ppm) and O2 (FiO2=45%) (Treatment group, n=9) or O2 alone (FiO2=45%) (Control group, n=8) for 12 hours. As compared to O2 alone, NO therapy effectively limited the increase in ACE activity and preserved lung ATP level and energy charge. Moreover, NO exerted a protective effect on the extensivemorpho-structural changes which were observed in the dogs who received O2 alone. The present study demonstrates that inhaled NO after smoke inhalation injury may exert beneficial effects that are likely to be due in part to a protective effect on pulmonary endothelium and pulmonary haemodynamics.