Phospholipase A2 induced diffuse alveolar damage--effect of indomethacin and dexamethasone upon morphology and plasma-histamine level.

Phospholipase A2, injected as a bolus into the jugular vein of adult male Wistar rats was investigated with respect to its action upon lung morphology and blood- plasma- histamine. In comparison with the injection of saline, phospholipase A2 causes hyperemia of the lungs, sequestration of granulocytes and intraalveolar pulmonary edema; the histamine level is increased to the sixfold. Pretreatment of the animals with indomethacin diminishes the toxic effect of phospholipase A2 upon the lungs and the histamine level.