Histological and immunohistochemical study on the possible protective effect of curcumin on intestinal ischemia / reperfusion induced lung injury in albino rats

ABSTRACT

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] injury may lead to severe local and remote tissue injury, especially acute lung injury. Curcumin has been shown to attenuate [I/R] injury in several organ systems. To evaluate the possible protective role of curcumin on acute lung injury induced by intestinal [I/R] in albino rat. Thirty male albino rats were divided equally into control group [Sham-operated], which underwent laparotomy without superior mesenteric artery occlusion. It was classified into two subgroups subgroup a which received no treatment, subgroup b which received curcumin, I/R group where rats were exposed to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 1 hour followed by 1 hour reperfusion. Third group was I/R and curcumin. Curcumin, was administered in a dose of [100 mg/kg] daily orally for 15 days before experiment. Rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion. Lung sections were stained with H and E and Cyclooxygenase -2 immunostain. A morphometric study and statistical analysis were performed. Intestinal I/R caused severe histological changes including massive infiltration of cells in thickened alveolar septa, around bronchioles and congested blood vessels. Curcumin led to obvious regression of induced histological changes by I/R. Significant increase in the mean thickness of inter alveolar septa and the mean area% of Cox-2 immunoexpression were recorded in [I/R] group compared to other groups. Curcumin administration proved a beneficial protective effect on I/R induced acute lung injury, and therefore has potential for clinical use