Effect of dimethylthiourea in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by rat lung during reversible endotoxic shock.

A rat model of endotoxic shock was used to evaluate the effects of dimethylthiourea, a putative hydroxyl radical scavenger, in the alterations of lung phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis found during endotoxemia. Treatment of rats with dimethylthiourea, just before lipopolysaccharide injection, resulted in a decreased lipid peroxidation and an increase in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, although it did not prevent the body weight loss or the increase in lung weight and lung protein content associated with the lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide. Our results suggest that phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis is impaired by processes in which hydroxyl radicals are implicated, although other oxygen free radical species, not removed by dimethylthiourea, can be also involved in lipopolysaccharide mediated lung injury.