Pentose pathway in pulmonary fibrosis due to chronic paraquat poisoning

In 14 beagle dogs, paraquat was infused in fractional doses to produce pulmonary fibrosis while avoiding fatal liver and kidney lesions. Activity of the three enzymes of the pentose pathway: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px), which supply reduced equivalents against oxidant agents, were measured in the mediastinal lobe of the lung. After a single low dose (2-3 mg/kg body weight), GR and GSH Px activities were reduced. After repeated paraquat doses, pentose pathway enzyme activities were higher than after a single low dose; however, they did not significantly exceed the normal values as determined in control dogs. The activities of G-6-PDH, GR and GSH Px correlated with the total paraquat dose and with the extent of pulmonary fibrosis measured with an electronic image analyzer. The activity of pulmonary lactate dehydrogenase, which was also reduced after a single low dose of paraquat, did not show the same correlations.