Terbutaline improves ischemia-reperfusion injury after left-sided orthotopic rat lung transplantation

β2-Agonists have been shown to increase alveolar fluid reabsorption, and at least part of their effect depends on active sodium transport from the alveolus into the epithelial cell by the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Few data exist on their effect in the injured lung. The authors therefore investigated the effect of intrabronchially administered terbutaline pretransplantation by measuring outcome 1 day after experimental donor lung transplantation with severe injury due to prolonged ischemia. Orthotopic single left-sided lung allotransplantation was performed in female rats (Wistar to Wistar) after a total ischemic time of 20 hours. Graft PaO2/FiO2 in 6 recipients treated with 10−4 M terbutaline in 500 μ L NaCl 0.9% was superior 24 hours after transplantation, with a PaO2 of 329 (111 [SD]) mm Hg versus 5 vehicle controls with 44 (15) mm Hg (P =. 002). The beneficial effect of 10−4 M terbutaline was abrogated by 10−4 M of the sodium channel blocker amiloride to 71 (34) mm Hg in 3 r...