Experimental Pulmonary Emphysema in Syrian Hamsters

Abstract

Syrian hamsters were exposed to the aerosol of a 5% solution of papain in the presence of cysteine and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid. Pulmonary emphysema in hamsters was observed after exposure to papain for two to three hours. There was no change with time in the severity of emphysema from the second through the fourth weeks after exposure to papain. Pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema was discussed in relation to proteolysis of glycosaminoglycan-protein complex.