BACKGROUNDAcute lung injury (ALI) is a common critical disease in emergency care. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ALI. Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) can inhibit oxidative stress in rat gastric mucosal epithelium. In this study, we examined the possible role of H(2)S in regulation of the oxidative stress in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in rats.

METHODSThe rat model of ALI was induced by intra-tail vein injection of oleic acid (OA). NaHS solution was injected intraperitoneally before OA injection as an OA+NaHS group. A semi-quantitative histological index of quantitative assessment of lung injury was calculated. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and lung tissue were detected with ELISA. The levels of H(2)S content in lung tissue were detected with an ion meter.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the level of H(2)S in lung tissue was significantly decreased, and the level of SOD and GSH were decreased but the level of MDA was increased in plasma and lung tissue in rats with ALI. NaHS lessened the ALI in association with an increase in the level of H(2)S in lung tissue, a decrease in the level of MDA but an increase in SOD and GSH levels in plasma and lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONEndogenous H(2)S could inhibit the oxidative stress in lung tissue in oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in rats.