Radiologic and Histologic Investigation of Pulmonary Oxygen Toxicity in Newborn Guinea Pigs

Abstract

The hypothesis that pulmonary oxygen toxicity is radiographically demonstrable was tested by serially radiographing 23 newborn guinea pigs maintained in a 96 to 100% oxygen environment at normal atmospheric pressure. All animals died in the increased-oxygen environment by six and one-half days. Nineteen showed characteristic radiologic progression of disease to death. Graded histologic changes in the lungs, particularly at the bronchiolar level, correlated strongly with the duration of 96 to 100% oxygen exposure (correlation coefficient, 0.90, P < 0.001). Duration of life in 96 to 100% oxygen was directly related to birth weight, but not to sex. Seventeen control newborn guinea pigs maintained in room air showed no radiologic evidence of disease and minimal histologic changes.