Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.115, No.7, p.405-410, 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iloprost (I) on lung injury as a remote organ following skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model.
Materials and methods:

Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats were randomized into four groups (n = 6).

Laparotomy was performed in all groups under general anesthesia. Only laparotomy was applied in Group S (Sham). Ischemia reperfusion group (Group I/R) underwent ischemia and reperfusion performed by clamping and declamping of the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 120 minutes. Group iloprost (Group I) received intravenous infusion of iloprost 0.5 ng/kg/min, without ischemia and reperfusion. Group I/R/I received intravenous infusion of iloprost 0.5 ng/kg/min immediately after 2 hours of ischemia. At the end of the study, lung tissue was obtained for determining total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, histochemical and immunohistochemical determination.
Results: Diffuse lymphocyte infiltration was detected in immunohistochemical examination of lung tissue in Group I/R. The connective tissue around bronchi, bronchioles and vessel walls was found to be increased. Although minimal local lymphocyte infiltration was detected in some fields in Group I/R/I, the overall tissue was found to be similar to Group S. iNOS expression was significantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with Group S and significantly lower in Group I/R/I compared to Group I/R.

TOS levels were significantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S and I (p = 0.028, p = 0.016, respectively) and significantly lower in group I/R/I, when compared with Group I/R (p = 0.048).

TAS levels were significantly higher in Group I/R, when compared with groups S, I (p = 0.014, p = 0.027, respectively) and significantly lower in Group I/R/I, when compared with Group I/R (p = 0.032).

Conclusion: These results indicate that administration of iloprost may have protective effects against ischemia reperfusion injury (Fig. 8, Tab. 1, Ref. 30)