Effects of subchronic inhalation of low concentrations of nitrogen dioxide. 1. The proximal alveolar region of juvenile and adult rats

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5242634

Chang, L Y; Graham, J A; Miller, F J; Ospital, J J; Crapo, J D

Techniques were devised to isolate tissue from the epithelium of terminal airways and the alveoli proximal to the airways. One-day-old juveniles and six week old adult rats were exposed to either room air or 0.5 ppm NO/sub 2/ for 23 hrs per day seven days per week. An additional group of adult rats were exposed to 2.0 ppm NO/sub 2/ for the same duration. Two daily hour spikes to three times the background levels (0.5 to 1.5 ppm and 2.0 to 6.0 ppm) were applied Mon. through Fri. Morphometric analysis revealed that epithelial injury occurred in all exposed animals. The juvenile rats which had been exposed to 0.5 ppm NO/sub 2/ exhibited changes in the characteristics of type II epithelial cells. These cells spread to cover more alveolar surface and became thinner. Adult animals exposed to 0.5 and 2.0 ppm NO/sub 2/ showed changes in alveolar macrophages and in the alveolar interstitium in addition to changes in the epithelium.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5242634
• Report Number(s): PB-86-217270/XAB; EPA/600/J-86/095
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
INHALATION
INTAKE
LABORATORY ANIMALS
MAMMALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGY
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES