Abstract:Objective To study the intervention effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on the pulmonary ultrastructural changes in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Ninety Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), COPD control group (group B), early-stage GBE treatment group (group C), late-stage GBE treatment group (group D), Erythromycin early-treatment group (group E), and Erythromycin late-stage treatment group (group F). Six rats were randomly seleted from each group, ultrastructural changes of the lungs were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the rates of pathological changes of mitochondria were calculated. Results The groups B, C, D, E and F all showed characteristic pathological changes of COPD to different extent. Under the transmission electron microscope,the ultrastructures in the groups C, D, E and F were more complete than those in the group B, and the rates of mitochondrial lesions were conspicuously lowered in the treatment groups, suggesting that GBE had a positive therapeutic effect. Conclusions GBE has inhibitory effects on airway and vascular remodeling in rat model of COPD.