Methods: Twenty-nine rats were randomized into five groups: 1) Control (Group 1); 2) I/R group (Group 2); 3) Animals were pretreated with pentoxyfilline (Group 3); 4) Animals were pretreated with carnitine (Group 4); 5) Animals were pretreated with ascorbic acid (Group 5). Rats in the Group 1 were undertaken laparotomy and closed after exploration of abdominal aorta. In the second group, the infrarenal aorta of the rats were clamped for a period of 3 hours. After ischemic period, aortic clamping were removed and waited for 1 hour of reperfusion period. The rats in the 3., 4., and 5. Group were administered pentoxifylline, carnitine and ascorbic acid, respectively. The animals were sacrificed and the histological specimens of the lungs were examined. Lung injury was rated with a semi-quantitative score based on congestion, interstitial edema, and polymorph nuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration.

Results: Edema, congestion and the more prominent accumulation of PMNL were determined in the specimens of other four groups as compared to the control group. The average scores were 0.6 in Group 1; 2.6 in Group 2; 2.16 in Group 3; 2.28 in Group 4; 1.83 in Group 5, respectively.

Conclusions: Pretreatment with pentoxifylline, carnitine and ascorbic acid were found to be beneficial in prevention of lung injury after IR of infrarenal aortic occlusion.