Abstract:
Objective To establish the pneumoconiosis model through twice-tracheal infusion of SiO2 in rats after tracheotomy and to provide the model for exploring the pathogenesis of silicosis and therapeutic methods.
Methods Totally 40 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, namely model and control groups. The rats in model group were received tracheal infusion of silica crystals (SiO2, 50 mg/mL) for two times (7 days interval), while the rats in control group were received saline. On day 90, all rats were underwent CT scans. And on next day, all rats were executed and the pathologic changes in lung tissues of rats were observed with HE and Masson staining. The changes of IL-6, TGF-β1 in serum and HYP of lung tissue were detected by Elisa methods and acid hydrolysis method respectively.
Results The gross examination showed all rats in the model group had the scattered gray-white spots which were seen on the surface of lungs, and some of them fused into irregular plaques. The CT examination showed 16 rats had the cloudy and streak on high-frequency shade. Pathological examination showed all rats had celluloid nodules (granuloma) in lung tissue. Correspondingly, there were no changes noted in the rats in the control group. The IL-6, HYP and TGF-β1 levels of rats in model group were increased compared with those of rats in control group(P < 0.01).
Conclusion Rat pneumoconiosis could be successfully established through twice-tracheal infusion of SiO2 in rats after tracheotomy.