Bleomycin-mediated lung injury in wild-type C57BL/6J mice was attenuated by rapamycin (treatment initiated at 5 days before bleomycin injection).

Abstract

<p>A) H&E staining (a-d) and Masson’s trichrome staining (e-h) of mouse lungs were performed after bleomycin injection at day 21. Lung injury was milder in rapamycin-treated mice (d, h) compared with vehicle-treated mice (c, g). Scale bar = 100 μm. NS, saline; Bleo, bleomycin; Vehi, vehicle; Rapa, rapamycin. B) Semi-quantitative assessment was performed on day 21 using Ashcroft scoring method, a significantly higher score was observed in the mice treated with Bleo (no rapamycin) than those treated with Bleo+Rapa. Results were expressed as mean±SEM, n = 6 mice per group, ** p<0.01. C) Bleomycin-mediated mouse mortality was decreased after rapamycin treatment.</p