[Role of cortistain alternation in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of cortistatin (CST) in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS:A total of 16 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and COPD model groups (n=8 each). The COPD model group received an inhalation of passive smoking while the control group was treated normally. After 4 months, pulmonary function was measured. The differential cell counts of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected. Morphology and pathology of lungs were studied via hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of CST in lung tissue, serum and BALF were detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the COPD group had obviously higher airway resistance and neutrophil ratio in BALF [(0.584 ± 0.021) vs (0.653 ± 0.062) mmHg·ml⁻¹·s⁻¹, 1.49% vs 0.41%, both P<0.05]. And there were significantly serious inflammation and emphysema in lung tissues. Moreover, the levels of CST increased in serum, BALF and lung tissues [(526 ± 76) vs (453 ± 41)pg/ml, (819 ± 100) vs (619 ± 101)pg/ml, (41 ± 10) vs (20 ± 7)pg/mg, all P<0.05] respectively as compared with the controls. CONCLUSION:An elevated level of CST may compensate to exert anti-inflammation effects in COPD rats.