Evaluation of low dose anaphylatoxic peptides in the pathogenesis of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Monitoring of early C5a effects in a guinea-pig in vivo model after i.v. application

A guinea-pig in vivo model is presented that allows the infusion of purified C5a via a central vein catheter and the monitoring of its effects on granulocytes and platelets, the most important cells in the pathogenesis of several lung disorders, e.g. shock lung. After the infusion of C5a, which was adjusted to a quantity that caused slight and transient alterations of lung physiology, granulocytes disappeared from circulation within 1 min. Simultaneously the granulocyte content of the lung increased about three-fold as judged by histological evaluations. Morphologic destructions were not observed. After the drop a rebound of circulating Polymorpho-nuclear leucocytes (PMN) occurred, which wa…