Paraquat-induced lung injury: prevention by vasoactive intestinal peptide and related peptide helodermin.

We earlier showed that the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) reduces or prevents acute injury produced in rat lungs by xanthine and xanthine oxidase. We have now examined whether VIP can protect against lung injury induced by paraquat, a prooxidant pesticide. Isolated guinea pig lungs were perfused for 60 min with Krebs-4% albumin and mechanically ventilated with 95% O2-5% CO2. Infusion of paraquat (100 mg/kg) into the pulmonary artery (n = 9 observations) increased peak airway pressure from 10.1 +/- 0.6 to 54.7 +/- 6.5 cmH2O, perfusion pressure from 8.0 +/- 0.5 to 14.9 +/- 3.0 cmH2O, wet-to-dry lung weight ratio to 7.17 +/- 0.37, and bronchoalveolar lavage protein content to 2.70 +/- 0.83 mg/ml (P < 0.01). Pretreatment with 1-3 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 VIP markedly attenuated or prevented all abnormalities. Of the related peptides tested, helodermin was as effective as VIP, but secretin and glucagon were ineffective. The results demonstrate that VIP and helodermin protect perfused guinea pig lungs against paraquat-induced injury and support the view that VIP has antioxidant activity.