Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of perfluorocarbon and ligustrazine in protecting the lungs against
ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methds Forty SD rats with ischemia-reperfusion lung injury were randomized equally into
control, ligustrazine, perfluorocarbon, and perfluorocarbon plus ligustrazine groups and received the corresponding treatment
via the tail vein 5 min before reperfusion. The lung tissues were harvested and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA),
myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected 3 h after
reperfusion. The pathological changes and pathological scores of the lung tissues were analyzed. Results MDA and MPO
levels were significantly lower and SOD activities significantly higher in the lung tissues in the 3 treatment groups than in the
control group (P<0.05). The rats in the combined treatment group showed a significantly lower MPO level and a significantly
higher SOD activity than those treated with ligustrazine or perfluorocarbon alone (P<0.05). No significant difference was
found in TNF-α levels in the lung tissues among the 4 groups (P>0.05). The lung tissues in the control group showed obvious
edema and exudation, and the tissues in ligustrazine and perfluorocarbon groups showed no edema but with a few red blood
cells and exudation; no edema was found in the combined treatment group with only a small amount of exudation. The
pathological scores differed significantly among the 4 groups. Conclusion Perfluorocarbon and ligustrazine, especially in
combined use, can promote endogenous oxygen free radical scavenging, decrease peripheral blood proinflammatory
cytokines, and inhibit neutrophils filtration in the lungs of rats with ischemia/reperfusion lung injury.