OBJECTIVETo discuss the role of gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)) in lung injury associated with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).

METHODSExperimental animals were randomized into five groups (n = 18 for each group): normal control group, ANP group, GdCl(3) pretreatment group, ANP GdCl(3) pretreatment group, ANP GdCl(3) treatment group. Rat ANP model was induced by intraductal administration of 3% sodium taurocholate. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage. The blood gas assay, the ratio of wet/dry tissue, protein content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), the myeloperoxidase (MPO) of lung tissue and generation of TNFalpha and NO by AM were evaluated. The apoptosis of AM was checked by agarose gel electrophoresis analysis, transmission electric microscopy observation and cytometry propidium iodide single stained method. The lung tissue was examined by histology.

RESULTSThe parameter of GdCl(3) pretreatment group compared with normal control group had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The indicators of ANP GdCl(3) pretreatment group and ANP GdCl(3) treatment group were elevated compared with the normal control group and had statistical significance (P < 0.05). But compared to the ANP group, they were all decreased and also had the statistical significance (P < 0.05). The 180 - 200 bp ladder pattern unique to apoptosis in agarose gel electrophoresis and the apoptotic typical morphologic feature in AM by transmission electric microscopy and typical subdiploid peak in DNA content figure could be observed in ANP GdCl(3) pretreatment group and ANP GdCl(3) treatment group, while the other three groups could not.

CONCLUSIONSLung injury associated with ANP could be ameliorated by application of GdCl(3) through inducing apoptosis of AM of ANP.