Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 49, Issue 6 1083-1090, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Lung statics and connective tissues after penicillamine in bleomycin-treated hamsters
A. J. Fedullo, J. B. Karlinsky, G. L. Snider and R. H. Goldstein
Penicillamine was administered intraperitoneally to male golden hamsters
for 30 days following a single intratracheal dose of bleomycin.
Penicillamine treatment increased soluble collagen and decreased
glycosaminoglycans in both normal and fibrotic lungs; total collagen and
elastin were not significantly changed in normals but were lower in
fibrotic animals. The proportions of the different glycosaminoglycans were
not affected by penicillamine treatment. When related to body weight, the
total lung capacity, vital capacity, and compliance both at low and high
lung volumes were increased in animals that received only penicillamine
when compared with animals that did not, but interpretation of these
results is difficult because penicillamine-treated animals had low body
weights. Lung statics were the same in animals that received penicillamine
after bleomycin as in those that received bleomycin only, though
penicillamine partially reversed the connective tissue expression of the
bleomycin lung injury. We conclude that factors other than connective
tissue levels are important in determining the mechanical behavior of
fibrotic lungs.
