Figure 1.

Effects of the intratracheal microspraying (IT) or oropharyngeal aspiration (OA) routes of bleomycin (BLM) administration on mortality, weight loss and functional respiratory mechanics. 8–12 weeks-old C57BL6/J mice were challenged with BLM delivered via the IT or OA routes (at doses of 3.2 and 0.8 U/kg, respectively) and were sacrificed 14 days later. Data from two independent experiments are presented as scatter plots with horizontal bars representing mean levels (±SEM). Statistical significance was assessed with unpaired Student's t-test in comparison with the relative control values; ^*p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (A,B) Kaplan-Meier plot using 14-days survival data from mice treated with BLM delivered either through IT or OA route, respectively. (C) Both OT and IA-treated mice demonstrated marked weight loss compared to saline-treated animals 14 days following BLM-challenge. (D) In-vivo respiratory mechanics following challenge with BLM. OA administration exerted similar to IT administration significant functional impairment on respiratory mechanics compared to saline-treated controls, as assessed by: mean static lung compliance (Cst), mean respirator system compliance (Crs), mean total lung capacity (A), mean respiratory system elastance (Ers), mean tissue elastance (H) and the curvature of the upper portion of the deflation limp of the pressure volume (PV) curve (K).