[Study on the mechanism of pulmonary edema after seawater drowning in rabbit]

To study the mechanism of pulmonary edema after seawater drowning (PE-SWD), the indexes of blood-gas and acid-base in rabbits artery blood were measured by the blood-gas analyser. The activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, cytochrome oxidase(CYTO) and alkaline phospharase(ALP) in the lungs were measured and analysed by computer image system. C-fos mRNA and Fos protein in the lungs were respectively determined by situ hybrioization and immunohisto chemical techniques. The distribution of phospholipid and Ca2+ of rabbits lungs was quantitatively analysed by ultrastructural location method. The results showed that, five parameters of PaO2, oxygen saturation(SaO2), pH, actual bicarbonite(AB) and base excess(BE) and the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and CYTO decreased remarkably in PE-SWD. Both c-fos mRNA and Fos protein expression in pulmonary epithelial cells in PE-SWD were significantly elevated compared with the normal controls(P < 0.01). The phospholipids products in the pulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells were decreased, however, the Ca2+ precipitate pellets inside the lung capillary endothelial cells and the pulmonary alveolar type I and II epithelial cells increased obviously. The arthors suggest that the injuny action of the seawater, hypoxia and metabolic acidosis may be the mian three mechanisms of the pulmonary edema induced seawater drowning. The lowering activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and CYTO in the lungs and calcium overload in the cells are not only evil consequence resulted from above three factors, but also the importent causes leading to the worse of PE-SWD. The transmiting line of Ca(2+)-fos may be also a key link to bring about the worse of PE-SWD.