DIGESTION OF PROTEOGLYCANS IN PORCINE PANCREATIC ELASTASE-INDUCED EMPHYSEMA IN RATS

Pulmonary emphysema was induced in rats by a single intratracheal inst illation of pancreatic elastase. The short-term effects of elastase in stillation on basement membrane components were evaluated using immuno histochemical and biochemical methods. Lung alveoli showed a decrease in heparan sulphate proteoglycan content (especially of its heparan su lphate chains) 3 h to 7 days after induction. Type IV collagen, lamini n and fibronectin were not affected. The glycosaminoglycan content of the lung was decreased during the first 3 days after induction, while the glycosaminoglycan concentration in urine was increased during the first 4 days by an increase of heparan sulphate and dermatan sulphate. The increase in urinary glycosaminoglycan content was positively corr elated with the extent of emphysema developed after 40 days. We conclu de that proteoglycans are target molecules for elastase, and may be in volved in the pathogenesis of emphysema.