Protective effects of BQ-123, an ET(sub A) receptor antagonist, against leukotoxin-induced injury in rat lungs

BQ-123 is a novel endothelin type A receptor antagonist that protects the lungs from edematous lung injury caused by leukotoxin 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate (Lx). Injection of BQ-123 into rat pulmonary rat artery reduces Lx-induced increases in lung weight, pulmonary capillary filtration coefficient, lactic dehydrogenase activity and endothelin levels. It also attenuated the effect of endothelin 1.