Figure 3.

Histopathological studies by light microscope showing morphologically lung tissues from rats in the (a) and (b) normal-control, (c)–(e) sepsis-control, and (f)–(h) sepsis + XBJ groups at 6 (c) and (f), 12 (d) and (g), and 24 (e) and (h) hours after injection, respectively. An acute perivascular and alveolar inflammation was observed already after 6 hours following A. baumannii infection, and it became massive accompanied by diffuse damage resulting ultimately in the destruction of alveolar structures and thickening of the septal space at a late phase; however, simultaneous administration of XBJ persistently attenuated the above indicators leading to small changes in alveolar architecture and histology during the 24-hour observation period. Original magnification: (a) ×100 and (b)–(h) ×400.