The mechanical, enzymatic and morphological changes in acute pulmonary insufficiency following the production of a haematoma in rabbits.

The production of a haematoma in the hindleg of rabbits represents a simplification of post-traumatic models. The lungs, one of the target organs, show similar micromorphological alterations to those described in traumatised human beings. The lungs of rabbits, bearing a hindleg haematoma for 24 hr, showed a significantly increased incidence of micromorphological lung alterations compared to the control group. Moreover, measurement revealed a significantly decreased lung compliance within the haematoma groups. It was demonstrated that whether the haematoma was subcutaneous or intramuscular, similar alterations were seen in lung histology, and in lung compliance values. Studies on the activity of superoxide dismutase in lung tissue homogenates demonstrated a significant decrease in those rabbits having had a haematoma intramuscularly for 24 hr.