RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effects of mechanical ventilation of isolated mouse lungs on surfactant and inflammatory cytokines JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 488 OP 494 DO 10.1183/09031936.01.17304880 VO 17 IS 3 A1 R.A.W. Veldhuizen A1 A.S. Slutsky A1 M. Joseph A1 L. McCaig YR 2001 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/3/488.abstract AB Mechanical ventilation of the lung is an essential but potentially harmful therapeutic intervention for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The objective of the current study was to establish and characterize an isolated mouse lung model to study the harmful effects of mechanical ventilation.Lungs were isolated from BalbC mice and randomized to either a nonventilated group, a conventionally ventilated group (tidal volume 7 mL·kg−1, 4 cm positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)) or an injuriously ventilated group (20 mL·kg−1, 0 cm PEEP). Lungs were subsequently analysed for lung compliance, morphology, surfactant composition and inflammatory cytokines.Injurious ventilation resulted in significant lung dysfunction, which was associated with a significant increase in pulmonary surfactant, and surfactant small aggregates compared to the other two groups. Injurious ventilation also led to a significantly increased concentration of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α in the lavage.It was concluded that the injurious effects of mechanical ventilation can effectively be studied in isolated mouse lung, which offers the potential of studying genetically altered animals. It was also concluded that in this model, the lung injury is, in part, mediated by the surfactant system and the release of inflammatory mediators.This work was supported by a grant from the Ontario Thoracic Society.