Histologic evaluation of normobaric oxygen therapy safety in an animal model

Background: oxygen therapy,as a therapeutic modality,can be used for long periods of times. however,it may be accompanied by potential complications and side effects. objectives: to evaluate the side effects of normobaric oxygen therapy in rabbits. materials and methods: in a double-blind experiment,28 white new zealand rabbits were randomized into an oxygen treatment group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 14). the oxygen treatment group received 100% oxygen at a flow rate of 5 l/min for 1 h daily,for 1 month. the animals were euthanized at the end of the study,and following autopsy a histological evaluation was carried out to detect levels of oxygen toxicity in their; lungs,liver,brain,heart,kidney,eyes and spleen. results: histological evaluation revealed no evidence of toxicity in the examined tissues,compared with the control group. conclusions: oxygen therapy at a flow rate of 5 l/min for 1 h daily for 1 month had no systemic toxicity and it appears to be safe in rabbits. © 2012 school of pharmacy,ahvaz jundishapur university of medical sciences; published by kowsar corp.