Reduction of the edema of acute hyperoxic lung injury by granulocyte depletion

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Abstract
Increased numbers of granulocytes are found in lungs acutely injured by hyperoxia, but their contribution to lungs injury remains unknown. Circulating granulocytes markedly increased (P < 0.01) in rabbits exposed to hyperoxia for 72 h and the numbers of granulocytes in lung lavages also increased and were correlated (r = 0.72, P < 0.01) with the degree of edematous lung injury. When rabbits were treated with nitrogen mustard (1.75 mg/kg) and developed sustained granulocytopenia, exposure to hyperoxia for 72 h resulted in fewer granulocytes in lung lavages and less edematous lung injury. When rabbits were similarly treated with nitrogen mustard but did not maintain sustained granulocytopenia throughout the exposure to hyperoxia, increased numbers of granulocytes were found in lung lavages and the degree of edematous lung injury increased to levels not different from those observed in O2-exposed rabbits that had not been treated with nitrogen mustard. Granulocytes may contribute to production of edema in acute O2 toxicity.