Alterations of alveolar type II cells and intraalveolar surfactant after bronchoalveolar lavage and perfluorocarbon ventilation. An electron microscopical and stereological study in the rat lung
2007

Effects of Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Perfluorocarbon Ventilation on Lung Cells

Sample size: 20 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Rüdiger Mario, Wendt Sebastian, Köthe Lars, Burkhardt Wolfram, Wauer Roland R, Ochs Matthias

Primary Institution: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Hypothesis

How do bronchoalveolar lavage and subsequent perfluorocarbon administration affect surfactant in the lungs?

Conclusion

After bronchoalveolar lavage, the amount of intracellular surfactant is significantly reduced, and short-term liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbon does not change surfactant content or composition.

Supporting Evidence

  • Lavaged animals had more type II cells with lamellar bodies in the process of secretion.
  • The fraction of alveolar epithelial surface area covered with surfactant was significantly smaller in lavaged animals.
  • Both PF5080 groups had a significantly higher total lung volume compared to gas-filled lungs.

Takeaway

When doctors wash out the lungs in rats, the surfactant that helps keep the lungs open gets really low, and adding a special liquid doesn't help much.

Methodology

Male Wistar rats were surfactant depleted by bronchoalveolar lavage and treated with either mechanical ventilation or partial liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbon.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of animal models and the experimental conditions.

Limitations

The study was conducted on a small sample size of rats, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

20 male Wistar rats, aged 2 months.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1465-9921-8-40

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