Lung mechanics and connective tissue levels in starvation-induced emphysema in hamsters

The effect of starvation on lung mechanics, morphometry, and levels of connective tissue components was determined in young adult golden Syrian hamsters. A base-line control, fed control, and starved group were studied. Fed group animals increased body weight by 13%, but dry lung weight did not increase above that of the base-line controls. The total lung capacity when transpulmonary pressure was at 25 cmH2O (TLC25) also increased by 20% above base-line controls. The mean TLC25 of the starved group was greater than that of the base-line control group but less than that of the fed control group (P less than 0.05). Volume-corrected air-filled volume pressure (VP) curves of the three groups were similar. Volume-corrected saline-filled VP curves were identical in the three groups. Total lung collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycan, and protein were similar in the three groups. Air space size was significantly increased and mean internal surface area was significantly decreased in the starved group compared with the base-line and fed controls. No evidence of alveolar wall destruction was evident by light or electron microscopy. We conclude that severe starvation of young adult hamsters produces air space enlargement without changes in lung elastic recoil. The mechanism of alveolar wall remodeling is not yet understood in this model of emphysema.