Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 41, Issue 3 295-301, Copyright © 1976 by American Physiological Society
Effects of intermittent hyperbaric oxygen on guinea pig lung elastin and collagen
V. Richmond and B. G. D'Aoust
The effect of high oxygen pressure on collagen and elastin turnover in lung
parenchyma tissue was studied in guinea pigs. Three groups of animals was
used. One group (I) was given a clinically excessive exposure of 3 h daily
for 9 days of 3 ATA oxygen. A second group (II) was given 3 ATA compressed
air on the same schedule, and a third (III), a control, was given the same
handling conditions only. Collagen and elastin which amounted to 10.45 and
4.62 mg, respectively, per 100 mg dry defatted parenchymal tissue was
labeled with [14C]proline injected ip. Connective tissue protein turnover
was estimated by labeling half of each group before exposure (a); effects
on biosynthesis were determined by labeling the other half postexposure
(b). No differences in hydroxyproline specific activity of collagen
fractions or elastin were found with respect to either biosynthesis or
turnover. Alveolar wall length-tension measurements were not changed. Since
exposures were in excess of those used for treatment of gas gangrene,
ischemic burns or wound healing, these results suggest that the metabolism
of lung connective tissue is unaffected by the short-term exposure to
hyperbaric oxygen.
