Abstract: The objective was to investigate the role and significance of cytokines in mice after acute oxygen toxicity. The serum level of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in mice at the 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after acute oxygen toxicity was measured by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. The serum level of IL-1β at the 1 h, 6 h, 12 h was higher than the normal control group(P <0.05 or P <0. 01). The serum level of IL-6 in mice at the 6 h, 12 h was higher than normal control group(P <0.05 or P <0.01). There were no significant changes in the serum level of IL-10. The results indicated that there was an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators during earlier period after acute oxygen toxicity, which might be the important factor in the onset and development of the acute oxygen toxicity.

Key words: mouse, oxygen toxicity, cytokine