ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The fibrosing form of lung injury (occupational, environmental, infective or drug induced) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Amiodarone (AM), often prescribed for control of arrhythmias is considered a potential cause. No effective treatment was confirmed, except lung transplantation. Intravenous (IV) stem cell therapy may produce pulmonary emboli or infarctions. Despite being commonly used in clinical practice, the intraperitoneal (IP.) route has been rarely used for cell delivery. The present study aimed at investigating and comparing the possible effect of IP stem cell therapy (SCT) on pulmonary toxicity versus the intravenous route in a rat model of amiodarone induced lung damage. METHODS AND RESULTS: 36 adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Rats of AM group were given 30 mg/kg daily orally for 4 weeks. Rats of IV SCT group were injected with stem cells in the tail vein. Rats of IP SCT group received IP cell therapy. Histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric studies were performed. Obstructed bronchioles, overdistended alveoli, reduced type I pneumocytes, increased thickness of alveolar septa and vessels wall besides increased area% of collagen fibers regressed in response to IV and IP SCT. The improvement was more obvious in IV group. The area% of Prussion blue +ve and CD105 +ve cells was significantly higher in IV group. CONCLUSIONS: Cord blood MSC therapy proved definite amelioration of lung injury ending in fibrosis. The effect of IP SCT was slightly inferior to that of IV SCT, which may be overwhelmed by repeated IP injection.