An 18-month study of the effects on hamster lungs of intratracheally administered human neutrophil elastase.

A study was made of the evolution of emphysema and airway injury induced in the lungs of male golden Syrian hamsters by a single intratracheal injection of 350 micrograms human neutrophil elastase (HNE). Saline control and HNE-treated groups of 8 animals were studied 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months posttreatment. HNE treatment caused a significant increase in all lung volumes and a significant decrease in maximum expiratory flows at all study times. The mean linear intercept (MLI) values of the left lung were significantly increased over control values. There was no progression with time in MLI values, lung volumes, or lung compliance. Secretory-cell metaplasia was present at 1 month and persisted throughout the study. The HNE-treated lungs showed clusters of ferric iron-containing macrophages in the terminal airspaces. The amount of iron in the lungs, determined morphometrically, was greatest at 1 month, was decreased by 6 months, and then did not change further to 18 months. At 18 months the amount of iron was still significantly above control amounts. We conclude that the airway and parenchymal lesions induced by HNE persist without progression for 18 months. Clearance of ferric iron, which was probably a result of the hemorrhage induced by HNE treatment, continued for 6 months with no evident subsequent clearance.