Fig. 3

A Representative chest computed tomography (CT) images and the aerated lungs images measured by three-dimension CT in the ARDS group at baseline and every 60 min during the experiment. B Representative histopathology across experimental groups. a), b), and c): hematoxylin and eosin staining; (a) Normal airway and alveoli in the control group. (b) Dilation of alveolar capillaries with congestion, (c) Infiltration of inflammatory cells mainly composed of neutrophils and macrophages into the alveoli, leakage of eosinophilic proteinaceous materials and precipitation of fibrin in the alveolar space in the ARDS group. The arrows indicate: (i) the dilation and congestion of alveolar capillaries, (ii) infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, (iii) leakage of eosinophilic proteinaceous materials and precipitation of fibrin. d) Immunohistochemistry with anti-pan-cytokeratin antibody and counterstained with hematoxylin showing shedding of alveolar epithelial cells in the alveolus. The arrow indicates a shedding alveolar epithelial cell. C Representative gross pulmonary findings at the end of the experiments demonstrate severe pulmonary hemorrhage and edema