Korean J Intern Med.  2007 Jun;22(2):67-72. 10.3904/kjim.2007.22.2.67.

Relationship between Pulmonary Surfactant Protein and Lipid Peroxidation in Lung Injury due to Paraquat Intoxication in Rats

• Gil HW
• Oh MH
• Woo KM
• Lee EY
• Oh MH
• Hong SY

• KMID: 1091864
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2007.22.2.67

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary damage resulting from lipid peroxidation is a principal effect of paraquat intoxication. The host-defense functions of surfactant are known to be mediated by the surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D, respectively). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the variations over time in levels of surfactant protein and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in lung tissue following free-radical-induced injury. METHODS: 42 adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were administered intraperitoneal injections of paraquat (35 mg/kg body weight). SP-A and SP-D levels were determined via Western blot. LPO in the left lung homogenate was measured via analyses of the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. RESULTS: LPO levels peaked at 6 hours, with no associated histological changes. SP-D levels increased until hour 12 and declined until hour 48; SP-D levels subsequently began to increase again, peaking at hour 72. SP-A levels peaked at hour 6, declining thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that in the early phase of paraquat injury, SP-D levels reflect alveolar damage and that de novo synthesis of SP-D takes 72 hours. Levels of SP-A, on the other hand, reflect abnormalities in the surfactant system in the late stage of paraquat intoxication. Surfactant proteins may play a role in protecting the lungs from reactive oxygen injury. A time-dependent variation has been observed in the levels of surfactant proteins A and D following paraquat injury, and it has been suggested that these proteins play a role in the protection of lung tissue against ROS-induced injuries.

Keyword

Paraquat; Lipid peroxidation; Surfactant protein A; Surfactant protein D

MeSH Terms

Animals
Free Radicals/*toxicity
Herbicides/*toxicity
*Lipid Peroxidation
Lung/*drug effects
Male
Paraquat/*toxicity
Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins/*analysis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reactive Oxygen Species/toxicity
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/*chemically induced