Amiodarone--induced changes in surfactant phospholipids of rat lung

Amiodarone HCl (AD) is a very effective antiarrhythmic drug, but its use is often associated with serious pulmonary complications. It is shown to induce lung phospholipidosis. Nevertheless, the effects of this drug on pulmonary surfactant which is composed of about 75% phospholipids and which prevents alveolar collapse is not known. Therefore, we have examined the effect of AD on the intra- and extracellular surfactant pools and on the levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the primary constituent of pulmonary surfactant. Male Wistar rats were fed AD (175 mg/kg) by oral gavage for three weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were killed, the lungs removed and perfused, and surfactant isolated. Some lungs were prepared for ultrastructural examination. Phospholipid was assayed in the intra- and extracellular surfactant. Amiodarone produced a significant increase in both the intra- and extracellular surfactant phospholipid along with an appreciable change in the phospholipid profile. Also, the drug seemed to increase the number of lamellar inclusions in the surfactant producing type II alveolar cells. These data suggest that administration of AD leads to an increase in the lung surfactant phospholipid levels and lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells.