INHALED NITRIC-OXIDE NEITHER ALTERS OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS NOR INDUCES LUNG INFLAMMATION IN PREMATURE LAMBS WITH MODERATE HYALINE-MEMBRANE DISEASE

The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether inhaled nitri c oxide (NO) map alter oxidative stress parameters and induce lung inf lammation in moderate hyaline membrane disease (HMD). Eighteen moderat ely premature lambs (130 days gestation, term = 147 days) were randoml y assigned to treatment with 20 ppm inhaled NO (n = 8) from the onset of ventilation or used as control (n = 10). Except inhaled NO, treatme nts were intentionally similar to those applied in clinical situations . The main studied parameters were oxidative stress index measurements on lung parenchyma and in circulating blood, lung parenchyma microsco pic examination and bronchoalveolar lavage cell count. We found that 2 0 ppm of inhaled NO for 5 h did not change significantly either malond ialdehyde and total antioxidant status levels in circulating blood, or malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glut athione reductase in lung parenchyma. Amino-imino-propene bond generat ion, which are lipoperoxidation markers, was similar in both groups. F urthermore, no significant changes in the number of inflammatory cells in lung lavage products and in lung parenchyma microscopic examinatio n could be found. Therefore, these data do not support the hypothesis that short-term NO inhalation increases oxidative stress and lung infl ammation in an experimental model of moderate HMD.