ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyze microscopically the effects of different concentrations of oxygen in the lungs of rats. METHODS: There were 20 rats distributed in three experimental groups (concentration of oxygen to 40%, 70% and 100%) and a control group. The animals were exposed to the oxygen in a chamber of acrylic during three days and after exposition, the animals were submitted to median thoracotomia to remove the lungs. The lung tissue of all of the animals was analyzed as regards presence of acute and chronic inflammation, capillary congestion, alveolar walls thick, interstitial and alveolar edema, alveolar hemorrhage, denudation capillary and alveolar endothelium areas and atelectasis. RESULTS: The analysis histopathologic revealed significant statistics difference for acute and chronic inflammation, capillary congestion, alveolar walls thick, interstitial and alveolar edema, alveolar hemorrhage, denudation capillary and alveolar epithelium areas. CONCLUSIONS: Exposition to the oxygen during 72 hours in the concentration of 40% does not produce significant histopathologic alterations in the lung tissue; in the concentration of 70%, can promotes the alveolar walls thick and capillary congestion and in the concentration of 100% can cause death and originate diffuse pulmonary lesion. .