Influence of heparin on macrophages activity and expression of endothelin in experimentally provoked rat bronchitis

: The rats exposition for 15 weeks to SO2 inhalation resulted in chronic bronchitis. The BALF evaluation revealed an increase in inflammatory cells number: neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes. Electron microscope examination demonstrated that macrophages were activated in comparison to healthy rats. Immunoreactive endothelin was found in bronchial specimens mainly in alveolar macrophages (we used a computer-assisted system of image analysis). The expression of endothelin was significantly increased in rats irritated with SO2. Low molecular weight heparin-nadroparine has been administered parenterally in 3 doses to 3 groups of rats. In animals subjected to SO2 irritation and simultaneous heparin treatment we observed significant decrease in number and activation of macrophages and endothelin expression as well. The results of this experiment suggest antiinflammatory properties of heparin.