OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of penehyclidine hydrochloride on paraquat-induced acute lung injury.

METHODS80 healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into control groups (10 rats), 100 mg/kg PQ group (10 rats), 100 mg/kg PQ plus 33 µg/kg penehyclidine hydrochloride treatment group (30 rats), 100 mg/kg PQ plus 66 µg/kg penehyclidine hydrochloride treatment group (30 rats). The two treatment groups were executed respectively at 36 h, 72 h and 7 d. Lung tissues were used to assess histopathological change by HE staining. The level of MMP-2, caveolin-1 and HYP were detected in the lung homogenate. The serum and BALF contents of ET were measured.

RESULTSPathology inspection confirmed that the model of acute rat pulmonary injury were duplicated successfully. The level of MMP-2, HYP in lung tissues and the serum and BALF ET contents in PQ group were (1.77 ± 0.40) µg/g, (2.91 ± 0.79) µg/g, (505.23 ± 124.69) µg/ml, (640.38 ± 136.60) µg/ml. The level of those was higher than that in control group [(0.95 ± 0.66) µg/g, (1.48 ± 0.69) µg/g, (95.48 ± 46.01) µg/ml, (200.40 ± 88.39) µg/ml, P < 0.05]; The above-mentioned index in two treatment groups was lower than that in PQ group (P < 0.05). The caveolin-1 content [(1.77 ± 0.82) µg/g] in PQ group was lower than that in control group [(5.39 ± 1.68) µg/g, P < 0.05]. The level of caveolin-1 in two treatment groups was higher than that in PQ group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPenehyclidine hydrochloride can decrease the level of MMP-2, HYP in lung tissues and the ET in serum and BALF, increase that of caveolin-1 and lessen the damage induced by paraquat.