The Effects of Amiodarone of Rabbit Lung Alveolar Cells

Purpose: The effects of Amiodarone on lung tissue and morphologic changes of alveolar cells. Materials and Methods: in this study, we used 21 mature male rabbits and they were divided into control and two experimental groups. Daily 80 mg/kg amiodarone was injected intra peritoneally to the experimental animals for one or two weeks. The control group received normal saline the same dose as amiodarone. Then the animals were anesthetized, perfused and the lung tissues were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 4% paraformaldehyde. After the routine tissue processing was done, the specimens were blocked in paraffin and serial 8 mm sections was prepared. After staining with hematoxylin and eosin, the sections were studied by light microscope. Results: The acute changes in lung tissue such as congestion of alveolar capillaries, hyperplasia of pneumocytes type II, death and pyknosis of alveolar cells, thickening of alveolar membrane and existance of fibrin like materials in the cells was seen. Furthermore the average of the nucleus diameter was decreased but the alveolar membranes increased statistically (P<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that i.p administration of amiodarone to rabbits can cause severe damages in their lung tissue.