Inhaled ethyl nitrite prevents hyperoxia-impaired postnatal alveolar development in newborn rats.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been used to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia, but with variable results. Ethyl nitrite (ENO) forms S-nitrosothiols more readily than does NO, and resists higher-order nitrogen oxide formation. Because S-nitrosylation is a key pathway mediating many NO biological effects, treatment with inhaled ENO may better protect postnatal lung development from oxidative stress than NO.

Objectives

To compare inhaled NO and ENO on hyperoxia-impaired postnatal lung development.

Methods

We treated newborn rats beginning at birth to air or 95% O(2) +/- 0.2-20.0 ppm ENO for 8 days, or to 10 ppm NO for 8 days. Pups treated with the optimum ENO dose, 10 ppm, and pups treated with 10 ppm NO were recovered in room air for 6 more days.

Measurements and main results

ENO and NO partly prevented 95% O(2)-induced airway neutrophil influx in lavage, but ENO had a greater effect than did NO in prevention of lung myeloperoxidase accumulation, and in expression of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1. Treatment with 10 ppm ENO, but not NO, for 8 days followed by recovery in air for 6 days prevented 95% O(2)-induced impairments of body weight, lung compliance, and alveolar development.

Conclusions

Inhaled ENO conferred protection superior to inhaled NO against hyperoxia-induced inflammation. ENO prevented hyperoxia impairments of lung compliance and postnatal alveolar development in newborn rats.

SUBMITTER: Auten RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1994219 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature