TY - JOUR
T1 - Azithromycin protects against hyperoxic lung injury in neonatal rats
AU - Ballard, Hubert O.
AU - Bernard, Philip
AU - Quails, Joseph
AU - Everson, William
AU - Shook, Lori A.
PY - 2007/9
Y1 - 2007/9
N2 - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder that causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and mucosal necrosis, which leads to emphysematous coalescence of alveoli. We tested the hypothesis that azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, would decrease the severity of lung injury in an animal model of BPD. Sixty-three rat pups were randomly divided equally into control, hyperoxia, and hyperoxia plus azithromycin groups. The hyperoxia groups were exposed to > 95% oxygen from days of life 4 to 14. On day 14, the animals were processed for lung histology and tissue analysis. Lung morphology was assessed by mean linear intercept, a measure of alveolar size, with larger values corresponding to lungs that are more emphysematous. The degree of lung inflammation was assessed by quantifying interleukin-6 (IL-6) from lung homogenate. Fifty pups survived to day 14 (control = 21, hyperoxia = 11, hyperoxia + azithromycin = 18). Mortality was increased in the hyperoxia group versus the control group (p < .0001). Treatment with azithromycin improved survival in animals subjected to hyperoxia (p < .05). Azithromycin significantly decreased lung damage as determined by the mean linear intercept in the hyperoxia groups (p < .001). Finally, azithromycin-treated pups had lower levels of IL-6 in lung homogenate from the hyperoxia groups (p < .05). Azithromycin treatment resulted in improved survival, less emphysematous change, and decreased IL-6 levels in an animal model of BPD.
AB - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder that causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and mucosal necrosis, which leads to emphysematous coalescence of alveoli. We tested the hypothesis that azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, would decrease the severity of lung injury in an animal model of BPD. Sixty-three rat pups were randomly divided equally into control, hyperoxia, and hyperoxia plus azithromycin groups. The hyperoxia groups were exposed to > 95% oxygen from days of life 4 to 14. On day 14, the animals were processed for lung histology and tissue analysis. Lung morphology was assessed by mean linear intercept, a measure of alveolar size, with larger values corresponding to lungs that are more emphysematous. The degree of lung inflammation was assessed by quantifying interleukin-6 (IL-6) from lung homogenate. Fifty pups survived to day 14 (control = 21, hyperoxia = 11, hyperoxia + azithromycin = 18). Mortality was increased in the hyperoxia group versus the control group (p < .0001). Treatment with azithromycin improved survival in animals subjected to hyperoxia (p < .05). Azithromycin significantly decreased lung damage as determined by the mean linear intercept in the hyperoxia groups (p < .001). Finally, azithromycin-treated pups had lower levels of IL-6 in lung homogenate from the hyperoxia groups (p < .05). Azithromycin treatment resulted in improved survival, less emphysematous change, and decreased IL-6 levels in an animal model of BPD.
KW - Azithromycin
KW - Hyperoxic lung injury
KW - Rodent model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36749056932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=36749056932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2310/6650.2007.00011
DO - 10.2310/6650.2007.00011
M3 - Article
C2 - 17963679
AN - SCOPUS:36749056932
SN - 1708-8267
VL - 55
SP - 299
EP - 305
JO - Journal of Investigative Medicine
JF - Journal of Investigative Medicine
IS - 6
ER -