Subchronic and Chronic Inhalation Toxicity of Antimony Trioxide in the Rat

Fischer 344 rats were exposed by inhalation to Sb₂O₃ (antimonytrioxide) dust at exposure levels of 0, 0.25, 1.08, 4.92, and23.46 mg/m³ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks followedby a 27-week observation period. Subsequently, an inhalationon-cogenicity study was conducted at exposure levels of 0, 0.06,0.51, and 4.50 mg/m³ for 12 months followed by a 12-month observationperiod. The Sb₂O₃ in the subchronic study had a mass medianaerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.05 ± 0.21 microns (mean± SD) with a geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 1.57± 0.06. In the chronic study, the MMAD was 3.76 ±0.84 and the GSD was 1.79 ± 0.32. Except for the eyes,no adverse clinical observations were attributed to Sb₂O₃ ineither study. In the subchronic study, corneal irregularitieswere seen after about 2 weeks of exposure and did not abateduring the observation period. In the chronic study, ophthalmoscopicevaluation at 24 months revealed a dose-related increase incataracts of 11, 24, 28, and 32% (both sexes combined) for eachgroup, respectively. Body weights were significantly lower (6%)than the control group's weights in the 23.46 mg/m³ males inthe subchronic study. These rats did not recover this weightduring the 27-week observation period. Body weights of the femalesin both studies and males in the chronic study were unaffected.There were no Sb₂O₃ effects on clinical chemistry or he-matologyin either study. Mean absolute and relative lung weights weresignificantly increased in the 4.92 and 23.46 mg/m³ groups inthe subchronic study. The 23.46 mg/m³ group's lung weights didnot recover to control levels during the 27-week observationperiod. Lung weights for rats in the chronic study were unaffected.Microscopic changes in the lungs in the subchronic and chronicstudy were limited to subacute-chronic interstitial inflammation,increased numbers of alveolar-in-traalveolar macrophages, foreignmaterial in the alveolar-in-traalveolar macrophages in the peribronchialand perivascular (chronic study only) lymphoid aggregates andin the peribronchial lymph nodes, granulomatous inflammation/granulomas,and fibrosis. In the chronic study, any observed neoplasms occurredwith comparable incidence among all groups and were within thehistorical range for controls. Clearance of Sb₂O₃ from the lungwas burden dependent and was reduced by 80/ in the 4.50 mg/m³group in the chronic study. The previously reported studies,which found Sb₂O₃ to be a carcinogen, were run at higher lungburdens. Under the exposure conditions of the current study,Sb₂O₃ was not a carcinogen.     

Deuterium Isotope Effect on the Metabolism of the Flame Retardant Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) Phosphate in the Isolated Perfused Rat Liver

The metabolism of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (Tris-BP)was compared with that of completely deuterated Tris-BP (D15-Tris-BP)in an isolated, recirculating rat liver perfusion system inorder to determine the relative quantitative importance of twodifferent biotransformation pathways of Tris-BP: (i) cytochromeP450-mediated metabolism and (ii) GSH S-transferase-mediatedmetabolism. To accomplish this we quantitated the biliary excretionof S-(3-hydroxypropyl)glutathione (GSOH) as a marker metabolitefor cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism and that of S-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)glutathione (GSOHOH) as a marker metabolite for GSH S-transferase-mediatedmetabolism. Completedeuterium substitution of Tris-BP significantlydecreased the formation of GSOH, whereas there was no effecton the formation of GSOHOH. Because our previous studies showeda large decrease in genotoxicity of D15-Tris-BP compared toTris-BP, the present results support our hypothesis that cytochromeP450-mediated metabolism is responsible for the genotoxic effectsof Tris BP in the rat liver.     

Contractile Responses and Structure of Small Bronchi Isolated from Rats after 20 Months' Exposure to Ozone

Short-term exposure to high concentrations of ozone has beenshown to increase airway responsiveness in normal humans andin all laboratory animal species studied to date. While ourknowledge concerning the pulmonary effects of single exposuresto ozone has increased rapidly over recent years, the effectsof repeated exposures are less understood. The goal of the presentstudy was to determine whether airway responsiveness is increasedafter near-lifetime exposure to ozone. Airway segments representingapproximately eighth generation airways were isolated from Fischer344 rats of both genders that had been exposed for 6 hr perday, 5 days per week for 20 months to 0, 0.12, 0.5, or 1.0 partsper million (ppm) ozone. Circtimferential tension developmentwas measured in isolated airways in response to bethanechol,acetylcholine, and electrical field stimulation. Responsivenessof the airways to the contractile stimuli was described by theeffective dose or frequency that elicited half-maximum contraction(ED50) and the maximum response. Since ozone exposure is associatedwith remodeling of peripheral airways, smooth muscle area wasdetermined and tension responses were normalized to the areameasurements. Before normalization of tension data to smoothmuscle area, neither the ED50 nor maximum response of smallbronchi to the contractile stimuli was altered after chronicozone exposure. Smooth muscle area was greater in airways isolatedfrom animals that had been exposed to 0.5 ppm ozone. After accountingfor smooth muscle area, maximum responses of the small bronchiisolated from male rats were significantly reduced after 0.12and 0.5 ppm ozone. Although not significant statistically, asimilar trend was observed in airways isolated from female rats.These results suggest that the increase in airway responsivenessassociated with acute ozone exposure does not persist duringnear-lifetime exposure. Although the mechanism responsible forthe adaptation to the effects of 03 on airway responsivenessis unknown, the results indicate that smooth muscle cell functionwas compromised by the chronic exposure. The mechanism(s) responsiblefor mediating this effect and the relevance of these resultsto humans remains to be determined.     

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane: Repeat Exposure Inhalation Toxicity in the Rat, Developmental Toxicity in the Rabbit, and Genoxicity in Vitro and in Vivo

Subchronic and chronic studies were carried out in the rat anda developmental toxicity study in the rabbit with exposuresto 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC 134a) by inhalation. In therat repeated exposure to 50,000 ppm HFC 134a for 13,52, and104 weeks elicited no effect on clinical condition, growth,and survival, or on a variety of hematological, clinical chemistry,and urinary parameters. Treatment-related pathological changeswere seen only at study termination at 2 years and were confinedto increased incidence of Leydig cell hyperplasia and adenomain male rats exposed to 50,000 ppm. The tumors, which were alsoseen in control animals, were benign and not life-threatening.A battery of in vitro and in vivo tests gave no evidence ofgenotoxic activity. With exposure to pregnant rabbits, the onlytreatment-related effects were of minimal maternal toxicityat high exposure concentrations; there were no effects on fetaldevelopment. It is concluded that HFC 134a is of very low toxicityand should be an acceptable alternative to CFCs.     

Rapid Administration of High-Dose Human Antibody Fab Fragments to Dogs: Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity

Rapid Administration of High-Dose Human Antibody Fab Fragmentsto Dogs: Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity. Keyler, D. E., Salerno,D. M., Murakami, M. M., Ruth, G., and Pentel, P. R. (1991).Fundam. Appl Toxicol 17, 83-91. The treatment of drug overdosewith drug-specific antibody fragments may require very highantibody doses. To address the feasibility of this therapy,we studied the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of high-dose humannonspecific Fab fragments in beagles. Three dogs received 5.3g/kg Fab iv over 1 hr. Because nephrotoxicity was observed,three subsequent dogs received 3.2 g/kg. The fraction of theFab dose excreted in urine (10 ± 6%%) was lower thanreported values for either high or low doses of Fab in otherspecies. The terminal serum elimination half-life (42 hr forthe higher and 48 hr for the lower dose) was also longer thanreported values for other species, due to lower renal and nonrenalFab clearance. Fab administration was tolerated without adversehemodynamic effects. One of three dogs at each dose developedtransient oliguria. All dogs developed a transient but markedincrease in the serum creatinine concentration. At 2 weeks creatinineclearance had returned to normal. Urinary protein and albuminexcretion at 2 weeks were within the normal range for dogs butwere increased over their baseline values. The histology ofall organs was normal at 3 weeks by light microscopy, and renalhistology by electron microscopy was also normal. The mechanismof Fab nephrotoxicity, not observed previously with high-doseFab in rats or lower doses of Fab in other species includingdogs, is not clear. These data suggest that further study ofthe potential toxicity of high-dose Fab, and its reversibility,is needed to assess the feasibility of treating drug overdosewith this antibody fragment The long terminal half-life of high-doseFab in the dog and its low renal clearance contrast with valuesobserved with lower doses of Fab in other species but wouldnot be expected to preclude the use of high-dose Fab for drugoverdose.     

The Disposition of Coal Dusts in the Lungs and Tracheobronchial Lymph Nodes of Dogs

The Disposition of Coal Dusts in the Lungs and TracheobronchialLymph Nodes of Dogs. Morrow, P.E. and Yuile, C.L. (1982). Fundam.Appl. Toxicol. 2:300–305. The pulmonary disposition, histopathologyand lymphatic uptake of anthracite (Tamaqua) and bituminous(Lower Kittaning) coal dusts were measured as part of a pulmonaryretention study which revealed a mean half-time of 1.92 yearsin dogs (Morrow et al. 1981). After brief (1-2.5 hr) exposuresto either natural or neutron-activated coals having an averageairborne mass concentration of {small tilde}90 mg m^–3and a 1.8 µm mass median aerodynamic diameter (g 2.5),dogs (n=12) were serially sacrificed up to 52 weeks after exposure.Coal dusts were found only in the lungs and pulmonary lymphnodes. The coals were considered indistinguishable as to theirpulmonary clearance and disposition and lymphatic uptake. Allcoals in the lung were associated mainly with the peribronchiolarand perivascular lymphatics or connective tissue spaces, andsome were found in alveolar macrophages. The lymphatic uptakeof coal dusts followed the powder function 0.55 t^0.613 wheret is in weeks and uptake is expressed as percent of the initialalveolar burden. In terms of pulmonary dust clearance, only4 percent of the initial alveolar burden appeared to have beentranslocated to the tracheobronchial lymph nodes in the first50 weeks, but this constituted {small tilde}14 percent of thetotal alveolar clearance. Histopathologically, one distinctionwas found: animals exposed to the highest level of neutron-activatedanthracite showed patchy hyaline thickening of some small bloodvessels and alveolar septa. The response was low grade, probablyexposure-related, but otherwise unremarkable.     

泽泻提取物不同组分对尿草酸钙结石形成的实验研究

目的 :研究泽泻提取物不同组分对尿草酸钙结石形成的影响 ,并确定其抑制尿草酸钙结石形成的有效部位。方法 :通过喂服泽泻提取物不同组分对乙二醇和氯化铵诱导的大白鼠肾草酸钙结石模型进行实验研究。结果 :服用泽泻醋酸乙酯浸膏的醋酸乙酯洗脱液大鼠的血清尿素氮 (BUN) ,肌酐 (Cr) ,肾钙 (Ca²⁺ )含量 ,24h尿Ca²⁺ 分泌量 ,肾组织的草酸钙晶体沉积均明显低于成石组 (P<0.05)。结论 :泽泻醋酸乙酯浸膏的醋酸乙酯洗脱液能抑制实验性高草酸尿症大白鼠体内肾草酸钙晶体的形成 ,是泽泻抑制尿草酸钙结石形成的有效部位。     

喉鳞状细胞癌组织体外原代培养的初步研究

目的 应用体外培养技术,对喉鳞状细胞癌组织进行体外培养,探讨喉鳞癌组织原代培养中的各种影响因素,为建立人喉鳞癌组织的细胞系提供实验基础。方法采用体外组织培养技术,对24例人喉鳞状细胞癌组织进行原代培养,观察原代培养中肿瘤细胞的生长与供体的年龄、肿瘤组织的分化程度及不同培养方法的关系,分析在人喉鳞癌细胞的培养中成纤维细胞、微生物污染的影响。结果 24例人喉鳞状细胞癌组织标本,年龄小于60岁组的细胞生长率为31.25％(5/16例),年龄大于60岁组为37.5％(3/8例);高分化组为100％(2/2例),中分化组为30.8％(4/13例),低分化组25％(2/8例);组织块培养法为43.75％(7/16例),酶消化法培养为10％(1/10例);倒置显微镜下观察,在培养的第5～7天,在贴壁组织块周围可见到有上皮样细胞爬出。全部标本中,成纤维细胞的过度生长和微生物的污染是阻碍人喉鳞癌细胞生长的重要因素。结论培养组织的细胞生长率与供体的年龄关系不大;肿瘤组织的分化程度较高者,细胞的生长率较高;与酶消化分离培养法相比,贴壁组织块培养法的细胞生长率较高;成纤维细胞及微生物的污染是阻碍人喉鳞癌细胞系建立的重要因素。     

γ射线对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖和周期影响

目的：探讨γ射线对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）抑制作用机理。方法：对大鼠VSMCs进行原代培养，经^3H-TdR掺入法观察γ射线对VSMCs增殖情况影响，应用流式细胞仪检测γ射线对VSMCs细胞周期的影响。采用Western Blot技术检测γ射线对VSMCs p53、细胞周期素D（cyclin D)和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）表达的影响。结果：γ射线对寻殖的抑制作用呈剂量依赖性。γ射线照射可诱导VSMCs出现G1期阻滞，在照射后一定时间内会导致p53表达增强，cyclinD和PCNA表达减弱，结论：γ射线可抑制VSMCs增殖，其机制可能主要是γ射线诱导VSMCs出现G1期阻滞，抑制VSMCs进行有丝分裂，在这个过程中p53,cyclinD和PCNA等分子起到一定作用。