Method for chronic nose-only exposures of laboratory animals to inhaled fibrous aerosols
A study is currently being conducted to determine any biological effects when rats and hamsters inhale man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs). The MMMF's to be tested include glass fibers, mineral wool, and ceramic fibers, with crocidolite asbestos serving as a positive control aerosol material. A prime objective of this study is to expose animals to high airborne concentrations of long thin fibers. Animal exposures are currently being conducted with a 0.45 ..mu..m mean diameter glass microfiber material and the standard UICC crocidolite. A specialized method of restraining rats and hamsters for inhalation exposure was developed providing for aerosol exposure only to the nose and a small fraction of the animal's head. This method eliminates external contamination and prevents animals from burying their noses in their fur to filter out aerosolized particles. Stainless steel chambers have been modified by placing two metal insert panels in place of doors, each containing 45 insert ports for Syrian hamsters or 32 for rats. Animals are loaded into tapered polycarbonate holding tubes and the tubes placed in the panel inserts for exposure. Body weights, rectal temperatures, clinical chemistry profiles, complete blood counts, and plasma corticosterone levels clearly indicate that this technique does not produce measurable stress in the animals.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6448376
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-81-963; CONF-8010202-1; ON: DE81024462
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Inhalation toxicology symposium, Kalamazoo, MI, USA, 15 Oct 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AEROSOLS
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
CERAMICS
INHALATION
DESIGN
FIBERGLASS
MINERAL WOOL
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
FIBERS
HAMSTERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RATS
ANIMALS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
RODENTS
SOLS
TESTING
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)