Effect of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation on Hyperbaric Oxygen Injury in Rats / 항공우주의학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E may protect against the toxic effect of oxygen free radicals that are preferentially produced after exposures to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). This study investigated the effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on lung after HBO exposure. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 to 250 g were exposed to HBO at 3 ATA of 100% O2 for 3 hours. The experimental groups were given vitamin C (125 mg/day per rat) and/or vitamin E (50 mg/day per rat) orally, from 5 days prior to the HBO exposure to the day of sacrifice. Serum NO concentrations were determined by measuring NO end product nitrite by non-enzymatic Griess assay. Expression of ICAM-1 on lung was observed by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The serum nitrite levels were significantly increased after HBO exposure and were higher at 24 hours after HBO exposure than at 0 h (P<0.05). The expression of ICAM-1 was weak immediately after HBO exposure and enhanced at 24 hours. There were no pronounced suppressive effects of vitamins on serum NO production and ICAM-1 expression induced by the 3 hours HBO exposure. CONCLUSION: The 3 hours HBO exposure induces the serum NO production and ICAM-1 expression on lung. The short-term supplementation of vitamin C or/and E do not suppress the NO production and ICAM-1 expression on lung.