RESUMO
To evaluate the protective effect of cetrizine against bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats [n=30], received an intratracheal injection of bleomycin [7.5 IU/kg] in saline solution for induction of pulmonary fibrosis. Two treatment groups received daily cetirizine five and 20mg/kg/day, seven days before and four weeks after administering a single-dose bleomycin [7.5IU/kg]. The cytokines [IL-8, TNF-alpha, TGF-alpha1] through ELISA kits, the amount of collagen in the lungs [hydroxyproline content], and pharmacological activity of the lung strip tissues were determined. The cytokine levels have been decreased in the treated groups by cetirizine 5 [p< 0.05] and 20 [p<0.01] mg/kg/day, in comparison to positive control group. Cetirizine may have a protective effect against bleomycine induced pulmonary fibrosis as evident by the reduction of the severity of lung tissue changes, collagen amounts and cytokines levels caused by bleomycine in rats lungs tissues