ABSTRACT
The paraquat model is of interest for historical reasons and continues to be used in several laboratories for the study of lung damage, especially as a model of interstitial lung disease. Paraquat-induced lung injury is perhaps unique in its severity among the various models of lung fibrosis, thereby resulting in an unusual histopathological form of lung fibrosis. At a constant dose of paraquat, there is a time-dependent increase in lung collagen synthesis that can be appreciated rapidly after administration of this toxicant to rats. Several dosage regimens have been described for elicitation of pulmonary disease in laboratory animals, using either pure paraquat or diluted commercial material as formulated. There is probably a good correlation between the accumulation of paraquat by the lung of an animal and the subsequent toxicity of paraquat to that animal. This procedure gives relatively low mortality, causes severe lung damage, and elicits severe and diffuse interstitial fibrosis.
