Abstract
The effects of perfluorocarbon (PFC) on paraquat (PQ) induced acute lung injury (ALI) was evaluated among rats. Twenty four Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control group injected by saline physiologic 0.9%, PFC group injected by Perfluorocarbon, PQ group injected by PQ and PQ+PFC group injected by PFC one hour after receiving paraquat. Bronchoalveular fluid content, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative and histopathologic changes were measured after 72h. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in the PQ group were increased compared to either control or PFC groups, but their levels decreased in PQ+PFC group significantly (p<0.05). Also, histopathologic evaluation revealed an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (HP) in the PQ group but a decrease in PQ+PFC group significantly (p<0.01). PFC emulsion by its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic properties can reduce the inflammatory and fibrotic alterations, pulmonary oedema, and pulmonary histopathologic changes created by PQ.

Keywords: : Acute Lung Injury, Paraquat, Perfluorocarbon, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Histopathology