Development and study of rat model of high altitude pulmonary edema

Objective To study the effects of acute hypoxia combined with exercise and hypoxic preconditioning on the development of high altitude pulmonary edema.Methods Healthy male and female SD rats(n=30)were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group(n=10),acute hypoxic group(n=10,at 5 000 m)and 3 000 m hypoxic preconditioning group(n=10).The pulmonary arterial pressure was observed and pulmonary tissue was collected for pathological study.Results PaO2 and SaO2 in acute hypoxic group decreased significantly.Water ratio of lung and lung-body weight index increased significantly.Pulmonary interstitial edema was found in rats exposed to simulated altitude of 5 000 m for 24 hours.Hypoxic preconditioning relieved severity of pulmonary edema.Conclusions We successfully developed the model of high altitude pulmonary interstitial edema by exposed SD rats to simulated altitude of 5000m for 24 hours and hypoxic preconditioning model.