Effects of ammonium nitrate aerosol exposure on lung structure of normal and elastase-impaired rats and guinea pigs

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80050-0· OSTI ID:5858513

Busch, R H; Buschbom, R L; Cannon, W C; Lauhala, K E; Miller, F J; Graham, J A; Smith, L G

Groups of rats and guinea pigs with normal lungs and others with elastase-induced emphysema were exposed to NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ aerosols of 0.60 mass median aerodynamic diameter at 1 mg/m/sup 3/ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. Morphologic and morphometric studies were performed on lungs perfused with cacodylate-buffered 2% glutaraldehyde under 20 cm H/sub 2/O pressure at necropsy. The tissues were studied for pathologic change by light and electron microscopy; emphysema was evaluated by subgross and microscopic methods, including changes in mean alveolar chord length using scanning electron microscopy techniques. Elastase produced emphysema to a degree quantifiable by all criteria studied; however, it apparently obscured the effects of nitrate inhalation. The NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ exposure (compared to air alone) tended to increase values for pulmonary parameters in normal animals of both species and to decrease them in elastase-treated animals. The NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ exposure increased values for lung volume in rats, percentage area affected in elastase-treated rats, and chord length ..beta.. in normal animals of both species. The responses to NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ were slight and were not accompanied by any detectable changes in alveolar structure. Therefore, the effects of NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ at this exposure level and duration, are regarded as biologically insignificant for rats and guinea pigs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5858513
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 39:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM NITRATES
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BODY
COLLOIDS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EMPHYSEMA
FUNCTIONS
GUINEA PIGS
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERFUSED TISSUES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES