Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether or not edaravone has an effect on reducing lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits. Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: ① the control group(group C, n=8): received sternotomy only and no ischemia; ②　the ischemia/reperfusion group(group I/R, n=8): the left lungs of rabbits were rendered ischemia by ligating the left pulmonary hili for 60 minutes followed by 60 minutes reperfusion; ③ the edaravone group(group E, n=8): the left lungs were rendered ischemia for 60 minutes followed by 60 minutes reperfusion, and 10 mg/kg edaravone was administered intravenously 5 minutes prior to ischemia. Blood MDA and SOD were measured. Protein concentrations, WBC count, and PMN percentage in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were determined. Samples of left lung tissue were sent for determining the left lung dry-to-wet weight ratio and evaluating the pathologic changes. Results: Blood MDA level, protein concentrations, WBC count and PMN percentage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of group I/R were significantly higher than those of group C and group E（P＜0.01）, and there was not significant difference between group C and group E (P＞0.05); serum SOD activity, serum albumin concentration and left lung dry-to-wet ratio of of group I/R were significantly lower than those of group C and group E（P＜0.05）, and there was not significant difference between group C and group E (P＞0.05); the pulmonary permeability index of group I/R was significantly higher than that of group C and group E（P＜0.01）; pathologic evaluations revealed mild alterations in alveolar structure, less white blood cell infiltration and less interstitial edema in group E than in group I/R. Conclusions: This study suggests that intravenous edaravone prior to ischemia attenuates the lung ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits through its radical scavenging and antioxidant action.

Key words: Edaravone, Oxygen free radicals, Ischemia reperfusion injury