Donor Treatment With the Lazeroid U74389G Reduces Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Lung Transplant Model

Background. Antioxidant treatment with lazeroids has proven beneficial for the amelioration of reperfusion injury in experimental lung transplantation. This study compares the effect of donor versus recipient treatment on immediate postoperative graft function. Methods. A model of acute double-lung transplantation in rats was used to assess graft function. Transplanted controls after 2 (group I) and 16 hours of ischemia (group II) were compared to a recipient (group III; 16-hour ischemia) and a donor treatment group (group IV; 16-hour ischemia) using the lazeroid U74389G (6 mg/kg). Serial assessment of alveolar–arterial oxygen difference, dynamic lung compliance, airway and pulmonary vascular resistance was obtained during a 2-hour reperfusion period. Final analysis included survival, weight gain, and histologic examination. Results. Graft function was significantly better after 2 hours of ischemia than in any of the three 16-hour ischemia groups (II, III, IV). After 16 hours of ischemia, donor treatment provided superior graft function with respect to dynamic lung compliance, airway resistance, and alveolar–arterial oxygen difference when compared with groups II and III. The pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly higher in group III when compared with groups II and IV. Graft weight increase reflecting edema was highest in groups III (104%) and II (98%). Conclusions. After prolonged ischemia only donor treatment with the lazeroid U74389G was able to significantly reduce ischemia–reperfusion-related graft dysfunction.