Background: The interactive roles of cytokines, endotoxins, superoxide (O 2 v -) and nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have not been fully elucidated. The effects of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1α (IL-1α), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the role of NO and the endothelium in mediating O 2 v -formation were therefore investigated in intact porcine pulmonary arteries in vitro. Methods: Intrapulmonary artery (PA) segments were obtained from White Landrace pigs (25-35 kg) and incubated with LPS, IL-1α, and TNF-α and O 2 v -release was measured by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c. The source of O 2 v -formation was determined using a number of enzyme inhibitors. The role of NO was explored using NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors and the distribution of NOS isoforms and peroxynitrite (ONOO

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The effect of removing the airway epithelium on the responses of canine airways of decreasing diameter to contractile and relaxing agonists was explored. Three orders of canine bronchus were studied: second order (lobar bronchus), third order (segmental bronchus), and fourth order (subsegmental bronchus). Paired rings of tissue, with and without epithelium, were placed in organ chambers in physiological salt solution gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2 and maintained at 37 degrees C. For second- and third-order bronchi, epithelium removal caused significant left-ward shifts of the concentration-effect curves for 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, and acetylcholine. In fourth-order bronchi, there was no significant shift for any of the contractile agonists. Isoproterenol (during contractions evoked by acetylcholine) induced concentration-dependent relaxations that were significantly greater in bronchi with than in those without epithelium. This effect was most prominent in fourth-order bronchi. These results suggest that 1) the canine airway epithelium releases a relaxing factor, 2) in larger airways the major effect is reduction of contractile responses, and 3) in smaller airways the major effect is enhancement of relaxing responses.

The effect of epithelium removal on the responses of porcine airways to exogenously applied agonists and nerve stimulation was examined. Paired rings of third- (segmental), fourth- and fifth-order (subsegmental) bronchi, with and without epithelium, were placed in organ chambers in physiological salt solution (95% O2-5% CO2, 37 degrees C). Removal of the epithelium caused a leftward shift in the concentration-effect curve for acetylcholine (3rd and 4th order). A similar shift occurred for histamine (3rd and 5th order). The relaxation to isoproterenol was reduced by epithelium removal in a similar fashion in the three orders. Removal of the epithelium reduced the maximal response to KCl (3rd and 4th order) and acetylcholine (5th order). The peak response to nerve stimulation showed a significant rightward shift in the absence of epithelium. In fifth-order bronchi, tissues with epithelium showed a significantly greater degree of fade of the response to sustained electrical stimulation. Thus both epithelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors may be released in porcine airways.

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