Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effects of simulated 100 m Trimix conventional diving on tissue inflammatory cytokines in rabbits.Methods: Eight New Zealand rabbits were performed a simulated 100 m Trimix conventional diving program which was established according to the Haldane theory. The expression levels of interferon-gamma(IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), myeloperoxidase(MPO) and matrix metallo proteinase-9 (MMP-9) in rabbits lung and brain tissues were detected by Elisa after diving decompression. The tissue wet/dry ratio was calculated. The serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione(GSH), catalase(CAT), malondiadehyde(MDA) and lipid peroxide(LPO) were detected by Elisa method in rabbits before and after diving.Results: The expressions of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, MPO and MMP-9 in simulated diving group rabbits were significantly increased compared with the intact group(P<0.05, P<0.01); the simulated diving rabbits tissues wet/dry ratio had no significant changes compared with the intact group. After diving, the activities of SOD and GSH were decreased significantly (P<0.01), while the contents of CAT, MDA and LPO were increased significantly (P<0.01).Conclusion: The simulated 100 m Trimix conventional diving had significant impact on oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in rabbits, the results of wet/dry ratio showed that the diving rabbits had no tissue edema after decompression.

Key words: Trimix conventional diving, inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, wet/dry ratio