Protective effects of resveratrol on hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats by alleviating apoptosis and ROS production

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common long-term lung complications of prematurely born infants caused by prolonged injury and repair during immature lung development. Resveratrol has reported to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, and antiapoptosis effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol in BPD. Methods: Neonate rats were delivered spontaneously and randomized divided into four groups on postnatal day (PN) 0.5: room air (21% O-2)+dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), room air+resveratrol, hyperoxia (80%)+DMSO, hyperoxia+resveratrol. Lung tissues were collected on PN1, PN7, and PN14. Protective effects of resveratrol on hyperoxia-induced lung injury were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, TUNEL staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. Results: Hyperoxia-induced alveolar simplification and apoptosis were alleviated by resveratrol; resveratrol reduced ROS production, up-regulated SIRT1, decreased the expressing of p53, and acetyl-p53 in the lung of hyperoxia-exposed neonatal rats. Conclusions: This study showed that resveratrol alleviated hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in neonatal rats lung tissue via reducing ROS and p53. Resveratrol-induced SIRT1 upregulation and acetyl-p53 reduction may also be involved in lung protection.