Increases in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or recruitment maneuvers may increase stress in lung parenchyma, extracellular matrix, and lung vessels; however, adaptative responses may occur. We evaluated the effects of PEEP on lung damage and cardiac function when increased abruptly, gradually, or more gradually in experimental mild/moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide intratracheally. After 24h, Wistar rats (n=48) were randomly assigned to four mechanical ventilation strategies according to PEEP levels: (1) 3 cmH2O for 2-h (control); (2) 3 cmH2O for 1-h followed by an abrupt increase to 9 cmH2O for 1-h (no adaptation time); (3) 3 cmH2O for 30 min followed by a gradual increase to 9 cmH2O over 30 min then kept constant for 1-h (shorter adaptation time); and (4) more gradual increase in PEEP from 3 cmH2O to 9 cmH2O over 1-h and kept constant thereafter (longer adaptation time). At the end of the experiment, oxygenation improved in the shorter and longer adaptation time groups compared to the no-adaptation and control groups. Diffuse alveolar damage and expressions of interleukin-6, club cell protein-16, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, amphiregulin, decorin, and syndecan were higher in no adaptation time compared to other groups. Pulmonary arterial pressure was lower in longer adaptation time than in no adaptation (p=0.002) and shorter adaptation time (p=0.025) groups. In this model, gradually increasing PEEP limited lung damage and release of biomarkers associated with lung epithelial/endothelial cell and extracellular matrix damage, as well as the PEEP-associated increase in pulmonary arterial pressure.