ABSTRACT
Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by damage to elastic fibers in the lung interstitium. The elastase model of emphysema developed out of the recognition that elastic fiber damage is important in the pathogenesis of this disease. This chapter describes the procedures involved in setting up and evaluating this model. It discusses relevant research findings and future directions of investigation. To establish the model, the laboratory has used the Syrian Golden hamster. These animals rarely develop spontaneous pneumonias, and they recover rapidly from the surgical procedures involved in inducing emphysema. If the animal begins to hold its breath, instillation of the elastase should be halted until respiration is resumed. The elastin component of the fiber may be specifically stained with silver tetraphenylporphine sulfonate. The elastase-induced increase in size of the air spaces in the lung may be quantified by calculating the mean linear intercept. The role of elastin in pulmonary mechanics is demonstrated by pressure-volume measurements of lungs treated with elastase.
