ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of ulinastatin on proinflammatory cytokine and oxygen free radicals during acute lung injury in rabbits. Methods Eighteen health New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups: oleic acid group(n=9) and ulinastatin group(n=9). The rabbits of oleic acid group were intravenously injected analytical pure oleic acid(0.12ml/kg) to set up a model of acute lung injury. The rabbits of ulinastatin group were intravenously injected ulinastatin 50000u/kg before injecting oleic acid and received intravenous infusion of ulinastatin 5000u?kg -1 ?h -1 after injecting oleic acid. Before injecting oleic acid and 1h, 2h, 3h and 4h after injecting oleic acid,venous blood samples were taken to determine the concentration of plasma IL-8, MDA and active oxygen,and arterial blood samples were also taken for gas analysis. Results The concentration of IL-8, MDA and active oxygen and PaCO 2 gradually increased,and PaO 2 gradually decreased after injecting oleic acid in the both groups of rabbits. The changes of the above indices in the oleic acid group were larger than those in the ulinastatin group, and the difference between the two groups was significant. Conclusion Ulinastatin inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokine and reduced the production of oxygen free radicals during acute lung injury.