Enfisema pulmonar experimental en la rata: fenómenos inflamatorios y progresión del daño pulmonar

Background: Although the hamster model of elastase induced emphysema is well characterized, the rat model has received less attention. Aim: To evaluate the effect of a single intratracheal elastase dose on lung pathological changes of Sprague-Dawley rats. Material and methods: Rats were injected with a single intratracheal elastase dose of 28 U/100 g body weight or saline and studied 7, 15, 30 and 365 days after injection. Results: Forty percent of rats died in the first 48 hours after injection, six were sacrificed at 7 days, 6 at 15 days, 7 at 30 days and 12 at 365 days. Progressive centroacinar emphysema was found from day 7 after elastase, with a persistent inflammatory reaction in the vicinity of emphysematous areas. Conclusions: Present findings differ from the panacinar emphysema described in the hamster using a similar elastase dose