LUNG-FUNCTION IN ACUTE PARAQUAT INTOXICATION

  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (6) , 559-563
Abstract
The herbicide paraquat [PQ] was used to induce an experimental lung disease, lung fibrosis. Functional and morphological examination of the lungs was performed in rats 48 h after intratracheal injection of 0.5 mg/kg of paraquat. Pronounced tachypnea was observed [235 .+-. 20 c[cycles]/min], which also persisted under urethan anesthesia [210 .+-. 18 c/min]. In control rats the mean breathing rate was 115 .+-. 11 and 90 .+-. 9 c/min in conscious and anesthetized rats, respectively. The rate of breathing decreased to comparable values in experimental and control rats after bilateral cervical vagotomy. The functional residual lung capacity was significantly increased in experimental rats. After vagotomy also this increase of functional residual capacity became normalized. Histologically the disease was characterized by focal formation of hyaline membranes and edema with occasional hemorrhages and signs of inflammation. The significant role of vagal function in lung pathology is demonstrated.

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