Effect of puerarin on expression of Fas/FasL mRNA in pulmonary injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rabbits.

The effect of puerarin (Pur) on expressions of Fas/FasL mRNAs in pulmonary ischemia and reperfusion injury (PIRI) in rabbit was investigated. The sole side lung ischemia and reperfusion model was used. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, a sham operated group (sham, n = 10), PIR group (IR, n = 30) and PIR + Pur group (Pur, n = 30). Changes of several parameters including apoptotic index (AI), wet to dry ratio of lung tissue weight (W/D) and index of quantitative assessment of histologic lung injury (IQA) were measured after 60, 180 and 300 minutes of reperfusion. Meanwhile, the location and expression of Fas/FasL mRNA were investigated. Lung tissue was prepared for light microscopic and electron microscopic observation after 60, 180 and 300 minutes of reperfusion. Compared with group IR, Fas/FasL mRNAs were slightly expressed in intima and extima of small pulmonary artery, alveoli, and bronchiole epithelia in group Pur. The values of AI, W/D and IQA were significantly lower than those in group IR after 60, 180, and 300 minutes of reperfusion in lung tissue (P <0.01 or P <0.05). Meanwhile, the abnormal changes in lung tissue morphology were markedly less in group Pur. Puerarin notably protects lung from PIRI by inhibiting Fas/FasL mRNA expression and decreasing lung cell apoptosis in rabbits.