Endotoxin-induced hydrogen peroxide production in intact pulmonary circulation of rat

Although the importance of free oxygen radical has been reported in acute lung injury, the direct evidence in vivo model was lacking. We report a new method, which for the first time allows direct detection of hydrogen peroxide in the intact rat pulmonary microcirculation. We used the computer image-analyzing system and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate for the marker of hydrogen peroxide production in vivo. A rat sepsis model was produced by continuous infusion of endotoxin for 30, 60, and 120 min. Hydrogen peroxide production in the pulmonary microcirculation of the sepsis rat was higher than in the control rat at each time point (p < 0.01) and increased time-dependently (p < 0.01). Catalase (5,000 U/kg) almost completely inhibited the hydrogen peroxide production in the sepsis rat (p < 0.01). In high-power view, hydrogen peroxide was detected in granulocytes that adhered to the capillaries and endothelial cells that were adjoining adherent granulocytes. These observations suggest that hydrogen peroxide in the endothelium was diffused from granulocytes. In this study, we demonstrated direct evidence of hydrogen peroxide production from adherent granulocytes in intact rat lung treated with endotoxin. We conclude that endotoxin causes the granulocyte adhesion and oxidative stress to the endothelium due to adherent granulocytes within 30 min in the pulmonary microcirculation.