Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of Colla corii asini (CCA) (common name E’jiao) on lung function and pathological injury of the lung tissue in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into the control group, COPD model group and treatment group with low, medium and high-doses of CCA (1, 2, 4 g/kg), with 5 rats in each group. The COPD model group and treatment groups were modeled by cigarette smoke exposure with a concentration of (1 100±10)mg/m³ once a day, 90 minutes each time, for 48 consecutive weeks. After the end of the next day, the CCA groups were given by daily oral gavage treatment for 28 days. Lung function was detected by animal lung function instrument and the pathological changes of the lung tissue were assessed by HE staining and microscopy. Results Compared with the control group, TV, EV, Te, RT, EEP and Penh were significantly increased in the COPD model group(P＜0.05), while PEF, PIF, MV, EF₅₀ and f(B) were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Inflammation and pathological changes of emphysema were observed, and lung tissue lesions were aggravated. Compared with the COPD model group, Te, RT and Penh were significantly reduced in the high-dose CCA group (P＜0.05), while MV, PIF and EF₅₀ were significantly higher (P＜0.05). Less infiltration of inflammatory cells, less alveolar expansion and fewer pulmonary bullae were observed in high-dose CCA-treated rats. The degree of emphysema was reduced, and pathological damage to lung tissue was clearly alleviated. Conclusions CCA improves lung function and alleviates the inflammatory response of the lung tissue in COPD rats.

Key words: Colla corii asini, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung function, lung injury, rat