【Animal Modeling】-Radiation Pulmonary Fibrosis Model

  [Modeling mechanism]: Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment methods for breast tumors. Radiation pulmonary fibrosis is a common lung injury repair change after radiotherapy of breast tumors, which may lead to irreversible lung dysfunction.

  [Modeling method]: Choose a male Wistar rat and irradiate the entire chest with 60Co-γ rays. The irradiation field area is 4.5 cm x 4.0 cm. The rat has two armpits. Until the position of the protrusion of the sternum sword is aligned with the area, and the self-designed device (10 cm lead brick) can protect the remaining rats, the irradiation distance is 3 m, the dose rate is 2.7 Gy/min, and the dose is 30 Gy.

  New Zealand rabbit: Using a laboratory rabbit, accurately locate the entire left lung on the analog locator, and irradiate the entire left lung with 6 X-rays with a 25 Gy dose linear accelerator. [Characteristics of the model] Rat pulmonary interstitial fibrosis takes a long time to form, usually about 6 months, and is mainly localized. The initial acute inflammation or leaching period occurred within 2 months after irradiation. The proliferation period is 2-3 months after irradiation, mainly manifested as subacute cell proliferation changes. Fibrosis is 3-9 months after irradiation. This period is mainly due to the severe thickening of the alveolar wall, the alveolar space, the interstitial parts of the lung (such as the alveolar wall, bronchi and perivascular area, especially the fibroblasts) significantly reduce or even disappear. The blastocysts and local focal fibrosis in these areas increased significantly; the formation of collagen slowed down between 9 and 12 months after the photography. After 2-3 weeks of exposure, spots or spot hemorrhages appeared on the surface of the lung and the surface of the incision. After 4 weeks of irradiation, a small amount or a large amount of light yellow or red-yellow fluid accumulated in the chest cavity, the lungs were congested, bleeding, and swelled, and a large amount of foamy fluid flowed out of the incision surface, increasing the volume of the lung. And the weight has increased. After 2 months of irradiation, the acute inflammation of the lungs gradually weakened, and after 3 months, it was significantly reduced. Six months later, mung beans, especially yellow and yellow-green, were found in the lungs, and their integration areas were as dense as broad beans, especially in the left and right lungs. The leaves above are very clear. Application of image analysis technology to clarify the pathophysiology and mechanism of radiation pulmonary fibrosis, and provide morphological basis, lung interstitium, alveolar cavity, lung matrix elastic fiber content and radiation pulmonary fibrosis are related to the study of lung hypertrophy formation process. The basophilic granule content and collagen mRNA content of lung fibroblasts were quantitatively determined. As a result, as the irradiation time increases, the alveolar wall gradually thickens , the area occupied by the lung interstitium increases, and the alveolar cavity gradually decreases. Elastic fibers increase 1 month after exposure, last for 6 months, and are almost normal at 9-12 months after radiation. After 1 month and 2 months of irradiation , the content of basophilic granules in mast cells decreased significantly and returned to almost normal levels within 3-9 months. At each time point after irradiation, the collagen mRNA content of lung fibroblasts increased to varying degrees.

  [Evaluation and application of the model]: This model can basically reflect the pathological changes and characteristics of pulmonary fibrosis caused by radiation, check the cause in detail, and accurately treat each treatment stage. This model is used to study the laws and characteristics of pathological changes, the course and stage of the disease, and the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced lung injury.