Enhanced inflammatory response to acute ozone exposure in rats during pregnancy and lactation
- New York Univ. Medical Center, NY (United States)
Experimental evidence from several studies suggests that pregnant animals and women are more susceptible to oxidants than nonpregnant controls. In the study reported here, we sought to determine whether pregnant rats are more sensitive than age-matched virgin females to the inflammatory effects of ozone, a gaseous oxidant of considerable environmental significance. Rats at several stages of pregnancy and lactation, as well as age-matched virgin females, were exposed to 1 ppm ozone for 6 hr. Controls were sham-exposed to pure air for an identical period of time. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 24 hr after the beginning of exposure, and components of the lavage fluid considered to be indicators of inflammation were used to assess the severity of pulmonary inflammation. The results of this experiment showed that significantly enhanced sensitivity to ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation develops during pregnancy, is maintained during lactation, and disappears following lactation. Implicit in this pattern of differential sensitivity in rats is the possibility of a similar pattern of inflammatory response in analogous groups of humans as well as the potential for applicability to other oxidative pollutants.
- OSTI ID:
- 6833493
- Journal Information:
- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology; (United States), Vol. 19:4; ISSN 0272-0590
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of maternal exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) during pregnancy on susceptibility to neonatal asthma
Comparison of acute ozone-induced nasal and pulmonary inflammatory responses in rats
Related Subjects
OZONE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
RATS
LACTATION
PREGNANCY
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
FEMALES
INDICATORS
INFLAMMATION
LAVAGE
SENSITIVITY
MAMMALS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POLLUTION
RODENTS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology