Abstract: Objective:To observe the effects of different concentrations of alcohol intake and the expression of TGF-β1 and bFGF on pulmonary in rats, and to explore the relationship between pulmonary fibrosis and possible mechanisms. Methods: Clean Wistar male rats (n=32) were randomly divided into control group (C, n=8), free drinking water; alcohol group (A, n=24), according to different concentrations were divided into 3% alcohol group (A3, n=8), 10% alcohol group(A10,n=8), 20% alcohol group(A20,n=8). A certain concentration of liquor was drunk freely by the rats of alcohol group, with no other liquid feed. Animals of each group were put to death 16 weeks after anesthesia. The transforming growth factor β1 and the basic fibroblast Growth factor in the rat lung tissue were measured through immunohistochemistry. By Masson staining, the interstitial lung collagen deposition in the case was observed. Results: Immunohistochemical results showed: (1) the positive cells of TGF-β1: The difference between control and alcohol group is significant (P < 0.05). To compare the C with the A20, 10 groups, the differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05). But to compare with the A3 group, the difference is not significant (P > 0.05). (2)The positive cells of bFGF: The differences between control and alcohol group is significant (P < 0.05), and the differences between the alcohol group of different concentration are also significant (P < 0.05). Masson results showed the deposition of collagen in the alveolar interval increased more significantly in alcohol group than the control group, especially in the A10 and A20. Conclusions: Our study proves that the expression of TGF-β1 and bFGF increase in the alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells and macrophages as the increase in the concentration of alcohol. A certain concentration of alcohol would cause lung collagen deposition. Our study also suggests that alcohol may be one of the reasons for leading to pulmonary fibrosis.

Key words: alcohol, pulmonary fibrosis, transforming growth factor β1, basic fibroblast growth factor, collagen