Effect of paraquat-induced lung damage on permeability of rat lung to drugs.

To investigate the effect of paraquat-induced lung damage on pulmonary absorption of drugs, rats were given a single oral dose of paraquat (250 mg/kg), and rates of drug absorption from damaged and control lungs were compared after various times. To measure absorption rates of drugs, 0.1 ml of 10 mM drug solution was administered through a tracheal cannula to anesthetized animals and, after various times, lungs were assayed for unabsorbed compound. Drugs investigated were procaine amide ethobromide, p-aminohippuric acid, and procaine amide. Rates of drug absorption increased 1.4-2.8-fold at 3.5 days after paraquat administration and returned to near control values by the 15th day. The results suggest that paraquat-induced lung damage increases the porosity of the pulmonary epithelium.     

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation increases expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in papain-induced emphysematous lungs and inhibits apoptosis of lung cells

BackgroundPulmonary emphysema is characterized by loss of alveolar structures. We have found that bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation ameliorates papain-induced pulmonary emphysema. However, the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. It has been shown that blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway leads to apoptosis of lung cells and pulmonary emphysema, and MSC are capable of secreting VEGF. We hypothesized that MSC transplantation may have a protective effect on pulmonary emphysema by increasing VEGF-A expression and inhibiting apoptosis of lung cells.MethodsWe examined the morphology and expression of VEGF-A in rat lung after papain treatment and MSC transplantation. We also used a co-culture system in which MSC and cells prepared from papain-treated lungs or control lungs were cultured together. The levels of VEGF-A in cells and culture medium were determined, and apoptosis of cultured lung cells was evaluated.ResultsVEGF-A expression in rat lungs was decreased after papain treatment, which was partly rescued by MSC transplantation. MSC production of VEGF-A was increased when MSC were co-cultured with cells prepared from papain-treated lungs. Furthermore, the apoptosis of papain-treated lung cells was inhibited when co-cultured with MSC. The induction of MSC production of VEGF-A by papain-treated lung cells was inhibited by adding anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody to the medium.ConclusionsThe protective effect of MSC transplantation on pulmonary emphysema may be partly mediated by increasing VEGF-A expression and inhibiting the apoptosis of lung cells. TNF-α released from papain-treated lung cells induces MSC to secret VEGF-A.     

Development of a new aerosol delivery system for systemic pulmonary delivery in anaesthetized and orotracheal intubated rats.

Over the last decade, the systemic absorption of a broad range of therapeutics after pulmonary application has been demonstrated in animals as well as in humans. The most common method used in the laboratory is the intratracheal instillation of drugs in solution. This method is, however, unsatisfactory, because of discrepancies in particle distribution, clearance, kind of injury and bioavailability between instillation and inhalative application. On the other hand, a precise determination of the amount of drug applied by aerosol, and of the aerosol volume retained within the lungs is rather difficult, and is not possible for use with small animals such as mice or rats. We describe a system which allows the delivery of aerosols directly into the animal's lungs, and calculation of the amount of drug retained in the lungs. Our system was tested in vitro and in vivo and was shown to allow precise and efficient pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies to be carried out.     

Phosphoramidon potentiates the endothelin-1-induced bronchopulmonary response in guinea-pigs

We investigated the effect of the endopeptidase-inhibitor, phosphoramidon, on the bronchopulmonary response induced by endothelin-1 in vivo or in isolated perfused lungs. In vivo aerosol administration of 1 or 3 μg/ml endothelin-1 for 2 min provoked no significant bronchopulmonary response. When awake animals were pretreated by an aerosol of phosphoramidon (0.1 mM, for 15 min), the bronchopulmonary response induced by 1 and 3 μg/ml endothelin-1 was markedly enhanced. In isolated guinea-pig lungs, aerosol administration of endothelin-1 (3 μg/ml, for 2 min) evoked a low increase in pulmonary inflation pressure. Treatment of awake animals with an aerosol of phosphoramidon before lung recollection led to a significant potentiation of the endothelin-1-induced increase in pulmonary inflation pressure. These results demonstrate that phosphoramidon potentiates the in vivo and in vitro bronchopulmonary response evoked by low doses of endothelin-1 and suggest that endopeptidase-like enzymes present in the airway tissue modulate the effect of the peptide.     

Age-dependent effects of chronic hypoxia on pulmonary vascular reactivity

Effects of age on the pulmonary vascular responses to histamine (HIST), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and KCl were studied in isolated, perfused lungs from juvenile (7-wk-old), adult (14-wk-old), and mature adult (28-wk-old) normoxic rats and compared with age-matched rats exposed to chronic hypoxia for either 14 or 28 days. Chronic hypoxia changed vasoconstriction to HIST and NE to vasodilation in lungs from juvenile and adult rats. Mature adult lungs only vasoconstricted to these amines in both control and hypoxic animals. Pressor responses to 5-HT were not affected by chronic hypoxia regardless of age group. Pressor responses to KCl were also not altered by hypoxia, but lungs from older rats showed greater control responsiveness to KCl compared with lungs from juveniles. Only lungs from juvenile animals developed significant elevations of base-line resistance as a result of hypoxic exposure. To investigate the contribution of H1-, H2-, and beta-receptors in these changes, we employed chlorpheniramine, metiamide, and propranolol, respectively, as blocking agents in another series of experiments. Chlorpheniramine either reduced vasoconstriction or increased vasodilation to HIST in lungs from both control and hypoxic animals, whereas metiamide was without effect. Propranolol either increased vasoconstriction or reversed vasodilation to HIST and NE in all lungs studied. The present data demonstrate the important interaction between chronic hypoxia and age that can alter pulmonary vascular tone and reactivity. The inverse relationship between age and elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance after chronic hypoxic exposure may be the key element that changes pulmonary vascular reactivity observed during hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nanotechnology and pharmaceutical inhalation aerosols

Pharmaceutical inhalation aerosols have been playing a crucial role in the health and well being of millions of people throughout the world for many years. The technology's continual advancement, the ease of use and the more desirable pulmonary-rather-than-needle delivery for systemic drugs has increased the attraction for the pharmaceutical aerosol in recent years. But administration of drugs by the pulmonary route is technically challenging because oral deposition can be high, and variations in inhalation technique can affect the quantity of drug delivered to the lungs. Recent advances in nanotechnology, particularly drug delivery field have encouraged formulation scientists to expand their reach in solving tricky problems related to drug delivery. Moreover, application of nanotechnology to aerosol science has opened up a new category of pharmaceutical aerosols (collectively known as nanoenabled-aerosols) with added advantages and effectiveness. In this review, some of the latest approaches of nano-enabled aerosol drug delivery system (including nano-suspension, trojan particles, bioadhesive nanoparticles and smart particle aerosols) that can be employed successfully to overcome problems of conventional aerosol systems have been introduced.     

The effects of selected antimicrobials on glucose transport in the rat intestine.

To determine whether oxytetracycline hydrochloride and the sodium salt of ampicillin have any adverse effects on the rat intestine, enteric enzyme levels and glucose transport rates were measured in vitro in rats. The intestinal transport of glucose did not differ significantly between control animals and those pretreated with ampicillin. For animals pretreated with oxytetracycline, the transport rates were significantly lower than those for the control group. The difference between the ampicillin and oxytetracycline groups, however, was not statistically significant. No significant differences in enteric levels of sucrase and maltase activity were found between any of the groups. The possibility that some antimicrobial agents may interfere with the absorption of nutrients suggested the need for caution in using these drugs in experimental animals.     

Subcellular and functional effects of quinidine, procaine amide, and lidocaine on rat myocardium.

Different antiarrhythmic agents such as quinidine, procaine amide, and lodocaine at 1 mM concentrations were found to depress the ability of an isolated perfused rat heart to generate contractile force. Quinidine, but not procaine amide or lidocaine, decreased calcium uptake by both mitochondrial and microsomal fractions at different concentrations of calcium. The mitochondrial phosphorylation rate, respiratory control index, and state 3 oxygen consumption, but not ADP:O ratio and state 4 oxygen consumption, were depressed by only quinidine. None of these agents had any effect on myofibrillar Mg2+-ATPase or Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activities. On the other hand, sarcolemmal Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities, but not Na+-K+-ATPase activity, were increased by all these drugs. The sarcolemmal adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity was decreased by quinidine only. These results suggest some similarities and differences in the sites of action of quinidine, procaine amide, and lidocaine within the myocardium.     

Aerosol gene therapy

Gene therapy is a novel field of medicine that holds tremendous therapeutic potential for a variety of human diseases. Targeting of therapeutic gene delivery vectors to the lungs can be beneficial for treatment of various pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and asthma. Inhalation therapy using formulations delivered as aerosols targets the lungs through the pulmonary airways. The instant access and the high ratio of the drug deposited within the lungs noninvasively are the major advantages of aerosol delivery over other routes of administration. Delivery of gene formulations via aerosols is a relatively new field, which is less than a decade old. However, in this short period of time significant developments in aerosol delivery systems and vectors have resulted in major advances toward potential applications for various pulmonary diseases. This article will review these advances and the potential future applications of aerosol gene therapy technology.     

Radiation injury in rat lung. IV. Modification by D-penicillamine

To determine whether D-penicillamine, known to reduce fibrosis in irradiated rat lung (W. F. Ward, A. Shih - Hoellwarth , and R. D. Tuttle , Radiology 146, 533-537, 1983), also ameliorates radiation injury in the pulmonary endothelium, we measured angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, plasminogen activator (PLA) activity, and prostacyclin (PGI2) production in the lungs of penicillamine-treated (10 mg/day, po, continuous after irradiation) and untreated rats from 2 weeks to 6 months after a single dose of 25 Gy of 60Co gamma rays to the right hemithorax. Both ACE and PLA activity in the irradiated right lung of untreated rats decreased dramatically between the 1st and 2nd months after exposure, then reached a plateau through 6 months at approximately 25 and 50% of the normal level, respectively. For the first 2 months after irradiation, penicillamine-treated animals exhibited significantly (P less than 0.05) higher activities of both ACE and PLA than did untreated rats. From 3 to 6 months after irradiation, however, the only significant drug effect on these enzymes was a 25% increase in PLA activity at 6 months. PGI2 production by the irradiated lung of untreated rats increased continuously, and at 6 months was approximately 10 times higher than normal. Penicillamine significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced this hypersecretion, and at 6 months after irradiation, PGI2 production by the lungs of drug-treated rats was only half that of untreated animals. In contrast, the drug had no significant effect on enzyme activities in the lungs of sham-irradiated rats. Thus the antifibrotic agent D-penicillamine delays the onset of radiation-induced enzyme dysfunction in the pulmonary endothelium. In addition at 6 months after irradiation, the lungs of penicillamine-treated rats exhibit 25% more PLA activity and only half as severe a hypersecretion of PGI2 as do the lungs of untreated animals. The drug is most effective in ameliorating endothelial damage during the first 2 months after irradiation, preceding the development of interstitial fibrosis. However, the effect of this penicillamine regimen on pulmonary endothelial function is not as large as its effect on collagen accumulation in irradiated rat lung.     

黄芪甲甙对实验性肺纤维化大鼠Cathepsin B表达的影响

目的:探讨黄芪甲甙时实验性肺纤维化大鼠肺组织中组织蛋白酶B(Cathepsin B,CB)表达的影响。方法:36只SD大鼠,随机分为对照组、模型组和干预组。模型组和干预组气管内注射博来霉素(BLM,5mg/kg)诱导肺纤维化,对照组在相同条件下给予生理盐水。第二天起干预组大鼠每天经胃管灌服0．1g/L黄芪甲甙2ml,其余两组相同条件下给予助溶剂羧甲基纤维素钠。治疗的第7d和28d,处死动物取出肺组织,进行病理学观察;测定28d肺组织中羟脯氨酸含量;用免疫组化和RT-PCR观察各组鼠肺组织CB蛋白及mRNA表达的水平。结果:病理学观察显示:与模型组比较,干预组肺泡炎和纤维化程度均减轻;模型组羟脯氨酸含量显著增高,而干预组与模型组比较羟脯氨酸含量明显降低;与模型组比较,干预组CB蛋白及mRNA表达显著降低。结论:黄芪甲甙可能通过押制CB的过度表达,对实验性大鼠肺纤维化具有良好的治疗作用。     

Correlation between oral drug absorption in humans and apparent drug permeability coefficients in human intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells.

Monolayers of a well differentiated human intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, were used as a model to study passive drug absorption across the intestinal epithelium. Absorption rate constants (expressed as apparent permeability coefficients) were determined for 20 drugs and peptides with different structural properties. The permeability coefficients ranged from approximately 5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-5) cm/s. A good correlation was obtained between data on oral absorption in humans and the results in the Caco-2 model. Drugs that are completely absorbed in humans had permeability coefficients greater than 1 x 10(-6) cm/s. Drugs that are absorbed to greater than 1% but less than 100% had permeability coefficients of 0.1-1.0 x 10(-6) cm/s while drugs and peptides that are absorbed to less than 1% had permeability coefficients of less than or equal to 1 x 10(-7) cm/s. The results indicate that Caco-2 monolayers can be used as a model for studies on intestinal drug absorption.     

Newborn response to cationic amphiphilic drugs

Administration of various cationic amphiphilic drugs in utero results in induction of a phospholipid storage disorder in many tissues, particularly in lungs. In addition to the phospholipidosis in utero, drug exposure results in toxicity to the offspring; newborn rats die within 48 h of birth. Although drug-induced pulmonary pathological changes appear to be involved in the observed mortality, this relationship remains unclear. In contrast to mammals, administration of cationic amphiphilic drugs to the chick embryo seems not to induce phospholipid storage in the tissues examined. Treatment of newborn rats directly with these drugs also induces phospholipidosis in several tissues including lung and kidney; however, mortality does not occur. Concurrent administration of phenobarbital and chlorphentermine reduces or prevents amphiphilic drug-induced phospholipid storage in newborn rat lung and kidney. Modification of chlorphentermine actions by phenobarbital may be caused by alterations in amphiphilic drug excretion, metabolism, and catabolic phospholipase activity. Evidence thus indicates that regardless of age, animals appear susceptible to the effects of cationic amphiphilic drugs; however, species and tissues examined, as well as specific drug administration, play an important role in the observed qualitative and quantitative responses.     

Manganese and iron transport across pulmonary epithelium

Pathways mediating pulmonary metal uptake remain unknown. Because absorption of iron and manganese could involve similar mechanisms, transferrin (Tf) and transferrin receptor (TfR) expression in rat lungs was examined. Tf mRNA was detected in bronchial epithelium, type II alveolar cells, macrophages, and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). Tf protein levels in lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid did not change in iron deficiency despite increased plasma levels, suggesting that lung Tf concentrations are regulated by local synthesis in a manner independent of body iron status. Iron oxide exposure upregulated Tf mRNA in bronchial and alveolar epithelium, macrophages, and BALT, but protein was not significantly increased. In contrast, TfR mRNA and protein were both upregulated by iron deficiency. To examine potential interactions with lung Tf, rats were intratracheally instilled with (54)Mn or (59)Fe. Unlike (59)Fe, interactions between (54)Mn and Tf in lung fluid were not detected. Absorption of intratracheally instilled (54)Mn from the lungs to the blood was unimpaired in Belgrade rats homozygous for the functionally defective G185R allele of divalent metal transporter-1, indicating that this transporter is also not involved in pulmonary manganese absorption. Pharmacological studies of (54)Mn uptake by A549 cells suggest that metal uptake by type II alveolar epithelial cells is associated with activities of both L-type Ca(2+) channels and TRPM7, a member of the transient receptor potential melastatin subfamily. These results demonstrate that iron and manganese are absorbed by the pulmonary epithelium through different pathways and reveal the potential role for nonselective calcium channels in lung metal clearance.     

Endothelin receptor blockade decreases lung water in young rats exposed to viral infection and hypoxia

Viral respiratory infections may increase the susceptibility of young animals to hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema. Because hypoxia stimulates endothelin production, we hypothesized that an increase in lung endothelin contributes to these alterations in lung water. Weanling rats were infected with Sendai virus, causing a mild respiratory infection. At day 7 after infection, animals were exposed to hypoxia (inspired O(2) fraction = 0.1) for 24 h. Exposure to virus plus hypoxia led to increases in lung water compared with control groups (P < 0.001). Lung endothelin levels were significantly higher in the virus plus hypoxia group than in control groups (P < 0.001). A second group of infected animals received bosentan, a nonselective endothelin receptor antagonist, during exposure to hypoxia. Bosentan-treated animals showed less lung water accumulation, less lung lavage fluid protein, and less perivascular fluid cuffing than untreated animals (P < 0.01). We conclude that the combination of a recent viral respiratory infection and exposure to moderate hypoxia led to increases in endothelin in the lungs of young rats and that endothelin receptor blockade ameliorates the hypoxia-induced increases in lung water found in these animals.     

Influence of pulmonary embolism on absorption of inhaled iodide-125

To evaluate the influence of embolus size on the absorption of 125I- deposited on the bronchoalveolar surface, we exposed isolated perfused rabbit lungs to an aerosol containing 125I- for 5 min. We monitored the blood radioactivity for the subsequent 2 h. Several groups of lungs were studied, including those in which blood flow was varied and those in which enough glass beads ranging in size from 58 to 548 micron were injected into the pulmonary artery to approximately double the vascular resistance. The results indicated that under control conditions approximately 94% of the 125I- deposited on the intrapulmonary bronchoalveolar surface was able to reach the pulmonary circulation during the 2-h perfusion period, and the bronchoalveolar surface was sufficiently perfused so that absorption was limited by the rate of diffusion into the blood rather than the rate of blood flow. In the absence of embolization, the initial absorption rate was approximately 10.4%/min regardless of the total flow rate. The 58-micron beads reduced the rate to approximately 7.5%/min, whereas the beads greater than or equal to 194 micron in diameter reduced the rate to approximately 4.5%/min. Thus the effect of the embolization on the absorption rate was directly related to the bead diameter, even though the number of beads injected was adjusted to produce about the same increase in vascular resistance.     

Absorption and release of biogenic amines by the lung during the restorative period after hypovolemic hypotension

The processes of serotonin and histamine absorption and release by the lungs were studied in dogs during 1 to 3.5 hour hypovolemic hypotension and during 24 hours after blood retains fusion. Absorption of biogenic amines by the lungs tended to increase in all the animals under hypovolemic hypotension. In the group of non-survivors the serotonin absorption by the lungs in the post-terminal period remained increased, while in the group of survivors it came down to normal soon, though the histamine release was increased. The above processes were aggravated in the group of animals whose lungs were affected by oleic acid. It resulted in the absorption of histamine instead of its release. The intensified absorption of biogenic amines by the lungs was accompanied by a quick fall in cardiac output, by the increase in resistance of systemic and pulmonary circulation.     

Bronchial provocation tests in small animals: a quantified and automated procedure.

Bronchial provocation tests using aerosols in laboratory animals are difficult to standardize and quantify, because the amount of drug actually reaching the airways is unknown. To improve the quantification of aerosolized inhaled stimuli, we designed an apparatus that allows, in anesthetized intubated ventilated animals, control of temperature and hygrometry of inspired air, computerized measurement of pulmonary resistance, and fully automated delivery of a known amount of aerosolized drug directly into the trachea. Calibration of the aerosol delivery involved direct measurement of liquid delivered at the tip of the tracheal cannula. Despite all our efforts at standardization and full automation of all steps, reproducibility of aerosol delivery was poor, with stroke-by-stroke differences of 26 or 42%, according to whether an air-jet or an ultrasonic nebulizer was used. Histamine dose-response curves performed in 15 guinea pigs with this device confirmed marked differences among animals and also disclosed large intraindividual changes in bronchial responsiveness.     

Pulmonary Absorption and Retention of Kanamycin After Repeated Inhalation Administration of Kanamycin Aerosol

The absorption and retention of kanamycin by the pulmonary system was evaluated after aerosol administration to rats. Tissue level concentrations of the drug were assayed by the agar-plate bioassay method. Mean concentrations of 6.58 μg/g and 3.52 μg/g were found in the lung and kidney homogenates, respectively, 26 hr after the final exposure period. No detectable level was found in the plasma.