Lung Injury In Acute Experimental Pancreatitis In Rats .2. Functional-Studies

In this study we report the functional changes in isolated perfused lungs from rats with cerulein-induced experimental pancreatitis. Rat lungs isolated immediately after the cerulein infusion demonstrated decreased pressor responses to angiotensin II (A II) and acute hypoxia (FIO2:0.0). The lung wet- to dry-weight ratio was increased, as was the lung-leak index, consistent with high-permeability edema formation in the lung. Neither saline-solution infusion for 12 h nor perfusion with cerulein of rat lungs isolated from untreated animals caused lung injury or functional alterations. The changes in pulmonary vascular reactivity were normalized 48-72 h after induction of pancreatitis. In conclusion, we describe an animal model of pancreatitis and reversible, ARDS-like lung injury.