Evaluation of a prostacyclin analog in prevention of pulmonary oxygen toxicity

Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of oxygen can result in significant lung injury, although newborn animals are tolerant relative to adults. We previously reported that relative O2 tolerance in the rabbit is lost by 10 days of age, and is coincident with a decline in lung prostacyclin. In the current study we administered iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analog, by continuous infusion to maturing rabbits exposed to greater than 95% oxygen. Compared to vehicle-treated controls, iloprost-treated rabbits had significantly lower protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 84 h, a smaller percentage of neutrophils at 65 and 84 h, and lower mortality at 96 h. The partial protection against pulmonary oxygen toxicity afforded by iloprost is likely due to its membrane stabilizing effect, and its inhibitory actions on neutrophil migration, activation, production of oxygen radicals and proteolytic enzymes.