Lung Structure and Function with Age in Normal Rats and Rats With Papain Emphysema

• Text
• PDF

Abstract

Intrapulmonary deposition of the proteolytic enzyme papain produces a lesion resembling emphysema in experimental animals. The natural history of this lesion has not been well defined. The present study was performed to evaluate changes in lung structure and function with aging in normal rats and rats exposed to an aerosol of papain at 2 mo of age. Groups of control and papain-exposed animals were studied at 4, 8, and 18 mo of age. The parameters of lung function studied were specific airways' conductance (Gaw/TGV), diffusing capacity per unit of alveolar volume (DLco/VA), diffusing capacity (DLco), and functional residual capacity (FRC). Morphometric parameters were the postfixation lung volume (VL) and mean chord length (LM); internal surface area (ISA) and ISA extrapolated to both the mean VL of the corresponding papain group and a VL of 10 ml (ISA10) were calculated.

Authors

Waldemar G. Johanson Jr., Alan K. Pierce