Histologic Evaluation of Normobaric Oxygen Therapy Safety in an Animal Model

Oxygen therapy, as a therapeutic modality, can be used for long periods of times. However, it may be accompanied by potential complications and side effects. To evaluate the side effects of normobaric oxygen therapy in rabbits. In a double-blind experiment, 28 white New Zealand rabbits were randomized into an oxygen treatment group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 14).The oxygen treatment group received 100% oxygen at a flow rate of 5 L/min for 1 h daily,for 1 month. The animals were euthanized at the end of the study, and following autopsya histological evaluation was carried out to detect levels of oxygen toxicity in their;lungs, liver, brain, heart, kidney, eyes and spleen. Histological evaluation revealed no evidence of toxicity in the examined tissues,compared with the control group. Oxygen therapy at a flow rate of 5 L/min for 1 h daily for 1 month had no systemic toxicity and it appears to be safe in rabbits.