Cytokine response after acute hyperbaric exposure in the rat

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.