[Protective effect of 764-3 on experimental lung fibrosis in rats]

Bleomycin was given to rats via a single intratracheal injection to investigate the development of lung inflammation and fibrosis. Increases in lung index and lung histamine content after 7 and 21 days and an increase of serum MDA content after 21 days were found. But there was no obvious change in lung hydroxyproline content. The results indicated that the acute and subacute inflammatory phases were induced by bleomycin over this period. Lung hydroxyproline content significantly increased after 60 days, demonstrating the onset of fibrosis. 764-3 treatment could obviously attenuate the changes in the above mentioned parameters, suggesting that 764-3 can prevent the lung inflammation and ensuing fibrosis caused by bleomycin. Besides direct antiinflammatory effects in the early phase, direct and indirect antifibrotic actions might also be part of the 764-3 protective effect.