Histological and immunohistochemical study on the possible protective effect of curcumin on intestinal ischemia/reperfusioninduced lung injury in albino rats

Background Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury may lead to severe local and remote tissue injury, especially acute lung injury. Curcumin has been shown to attenuate (I/R) injury in several organ systems. Aim of the work To evaluate the possible protective role of curcumin on acute lung injury induced by intestinal (I/R) in albino rat. Materials and methods Thirty male albino rats were divided equally into control group (Sham-operated), which underwent laparotomy without superior mesenteric artery occlusion. It was classified into two subgroups: subgroup a: which received no treatment, subgroup b: which received curcumin, I/R group where rats were exposed to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 1 hour followed by 1 hour reperfusion. Third group was I/R and curcumin. Curcumin, was administered in a dose of (100 mg/kg) daily orally for 15 days before experiment. Rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion. Lung sections were stained with H E and Cyclooxygenase -2 immunostain. A morphometric study and statistical analysis were performed. Results Intestinal I/R caused severe histological changes including massive infiltration of cells in thickened alveolar septa , around bronchioles and congested blood vessels. Curcumin led to obvious regression of induced histological changes by I/R. Significant increase in the mean thickness of inter alveolar septa and the mean area% of Cox-2 immunoexpression were recorded in (I/R) group compared to other groups. Conclusion Curcumin administration proved a beneficial protective effect on I/R induced acute lung injury, and therefore has potential for clinical use.