The effects of endotoxemia on the antioxidant activity in alveolar macrophages of Wistar rats were evaluated. Twenty-four male rats, 90-120 days of age, were separated into 2 groups: control and endotoxemic. To the endotoxemic animals was administered, intraperitoneally, a lipopolyssaccaride at dosage of 1mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hours after this procedure, blood was collected for total and differential leukocytes counts. In addition, bronchoalveolar lavage was collected for total and differential leukocyte counting. From this lavage macrophages were isolated for the dosage of superoxide and superoxide dismutase. The endotoxemia increased the total leukocyte counts and the number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage of the rats. There was an increased superoxide production without changing the superoxide dismutase. Our findings indicate that endotoxemia induces lung inflammatory response. However, it does not alter the antioxidant activity in adult rats. This fact not only enhances host response against infectious agents, but might also contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary injury.
Antioxidant activity; oxidant activity; endotoxemia; cellular recruitment; macrophage
