Cyclophosphamide-induced lung damage in mice: protection by a small preliminary dose.

Cycylphosphamide (Cy) produces an interstitial pneumonitis in CBA mice. The extent of the lung damage has been quantified by measuring the increase in ventilation rate over 6 weeks after an i.p. injection of Cy 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg. A dose-dependent response was found. When a preliminary ("priming") dose of Cy at 50 mg/kg was given 7, 9 or 14 days before a single large dose of 250 mg/kg, lung damage was reduced, as shown by a smaller increase in ventilation rate than in those receiving 250 mg/kg alone, and this difference was significant (P less than 0.01) in the Day-14-and highly significant (P<0.001) in the Day-7-"primed" groups. When primed less than 7 days before, there was a relative increase in ventilation rate, which was statistically significant (P less than 0.01) in the Day-1-primed group. Similar effects were also seen in the survival of the mice.