Fig. 1

VILI causes alveolar simplification and activates caspase-1 and GSDMD in the neonatal lung. A–D Photomicrographs (20×; bars = 50 µm) of H&E-stained lung sections from rats on P21 of representative control animals (A) and rats mechanically ventilated with low (B) or high Vt (C) showing alveolar simplification and increased mean linear intercept (D) in animals exposed to high Vt mechanical ventilation. N = 6 controls, 5 low Vt, and 6 High Vt. E–F Western blots showing increased active caspase-1 (p20 fragment) (E) and active GSDMD (p30 fragment) (F) in lung homogenates 2 weeks after injurious mechanical ventilation with high Vt. N = 4 controls, 4 low Vt, and 4 High Vt. Data are presented as box plots showing the median, 25th to 75th percentile, and minimal to maximal value normalized to control. Data was analyzed by ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-test, p values < 0.05 are shown on bars