Edaravone protects against lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rat

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a critical and triggering event in the development of distal organ dysfunction, frequently involving the lungs. Respiratory failure is a common cause of death and complications after intestinal I/R. In this study we investigated the effects of edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline-5-one) on the prevention of lung injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats. Edaravone has been used for protection against I/R injury in patients with cerebral infarction. When rats were subjected to 180 min of intestinal ischemia, a high incidence of mortality was observed within 24 h. In this situation, intravenous administration of edaravone just before the start of reperfusion reduced the mortality in a dose-dependent manner. To examine the efficacy of edaravone on the lung injury induced by intestinal I/R in more detail, we performed 120 min of intestinal ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Edaravone treatment decreased the neutrophil infiltration, the lipid membrane peroxidation, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 mRNA in the lungs after intestinal I/R compared to the I/R-treated rat lungs without edaravone treatment. Histopathological analysis also indicated the effectiveness of edaravone. In conclusion, edaravone ameliorated the lung injury induced by intestinal I/R, resulting in a reduction in mortality.