The objective of this study was to scrutinize the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and the diagnosis of blood in ARDS in a rat model determined by the sequential exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of taurine and dexamethasone on ARDS induced by LPS. Measurements of nitrite/nitrate were elevated in BAL of LPS challenged rats, indicative of an induction of the NO synthase. Taurine and dexamethasone abrogated the extent of endotoxin-induced ARDS, as evidenced by the decreases BAL nitrate/nitrite, BALF protein and lung pathology. T+L+D-group had higher PaO2 and lower PaCO2 values than L-group and T+Lgroup. But, ionized Ca2+ and Mg2+ both were not shown significant change. Also, T+L and T+L+D-group showed significant increase compared with L-group, but for the other side no significant difference was seen between T+L and T+L+D group. We suggest that taurine and dexamethasone may be a drug of choice for preventing ARDS.
Hempel SL, Monick MM, Hunninghake GW, Am. J. Respir.Cell Mol. Biol., 14, 170, 1996
Schuller-Levis GB, Sturman JA, Activation of alveolar leukocytes isolated from cats fed taurine-free diets. In: Lombardini JB, Schaffer SW, Azuma J (Eds.), Taurine: nutritional value and mechanisms of action. New York, Plenum Press, 83, 1992
Leeper-Woodford SK, Detmer K, Am. J. Physiol., 276, L909, 1992