Hyperoxia: influence on lung mechanics and protein synthesis.

We studied the time-course of the influence of in vivo hyperoxia on lung mechanics and on protein synthesis. After 24 h of exposure to greater than 98% O2 at 1 atm there were no alterations in descending pressure-volume curves (air or saline) of lungs excised from O2-exposed rats compared to control rats. After 48 h of hyperoxia there was a decrease in lung compliance. To study protein synthesis, as indicated by L-[U-(24)C] leucine incorporation into protein, lung slices were incubated with L-[U-(14)C]leucine and surface-active material then obtained by ultracentrifugation of lung homogenates. We measured radioactivity in total protein and in protein in the surface-active fraction. There were no alterations in incorporation after 12 h of hypertoxia. After 24 h of hyperoxia there were significant decreases (P<0.05) in L-[U-(14)C]leucine incorporation into total protein and into protein of the surface-active fraction. After 48 h of hyperoxia incorporation into protein of the surface-active fraction was decreased to a greater extent than incorporation into total protein, 63+/-4% and 75+/-5%, respectively, (P<0.025). These studies show that hyperoxia produces a major decrease in protein synthesis, including synthesis of protein in a surface-active fraction, before the onset of any detectable changes in the static compliance of excised lungs.