Intravascular gas has earlier been shown to activate leukocytes and platele
ts, enhance cell adhesion, and promote secretion of vasoactive substances f
rom platelets. Since decompression is known to release gas bubbles in the b
loodstream, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of a
standardized decompression trauma an inflammatory mediators. Two series of
experiments were performed in which male Wistar rats were subjected to a s
ublethal decompression trauma using a dry pressure chamber. Postdive measur
ements of cytokine levels were performed to took for signs of an inflammato
ry reaction. All animals subjected to a decompression trauma showed postdiv
e signs of mild to severe decompression illness (DCI) and measurements of i
nterleukin-6 (IL-6) indicated a postdive increase in the majority of these
animals. Our finding of a postdive increase in IL-6 suggests that an inflam
matory response, probably created by a brood-gas interface, may be a factor
in the process leading to DCT.