Authors: Ogami, Akira¹; Morimoto, Yasuo²; Yamato, Hiroshi¹; Oyabu, Takako¹; Kajiwara, Takayoshi¹; Tanaka, Isamu¹

Source: Inhalation Toxicology, Volume 16, Numbers 11-12, Numbers 11-12/2004 , pp. 793-800(8)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

We evaluate the morphometric point counting method (PCM) for qualitatively analyzing pulmonary inflammation and collagen deposits (i.e., fibrosis) in the assessment of the biological hazards of inhaled respirable particles at a realistic dose comparable to that of exposure in the work environment. Rats were exposed by intratracheal instillation to a 2-mg dose, which is close to the estimated overdose at which macrophage clearance is impared, of each of 3 kinds of particulate matter: crystalline silica, crocidolite asbestos, and titanium dioxide. The lung tissue was evaluated at 3 days, 1 wk, and 1, 3, and 6 mo after exposure. Digital images taken of the lung tissue after processing and staining of the lung sections were examined by the PCM under light microscopy. Evidence of inflammation along with progressive inflammatory changes occurred with crystalline silica and crocidolite, which are well-known hazardous particle types. In contrast, lung tissue from rats exposed to titanium dioxide particles demonstrated a decreasing pattern of histopathological change with increasing retention time. Differences in repair patterns of TiO2 versus crocidolite and silica following the 2-mg dose exposure suggest that the PCM scoring system may be a useful and sensitive tool for qualitatively evaluating the biological hazards of new particle types, for which no toxicological information exists for low-dose exposure, by using the results from assessment of fibrogenic particle types (such as crocidolite and crystalline silica) as well as particle types with low toxicity (such as TiO2) as reference points.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08958370490476749

Affiliations: 1: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan 2: Department of Occupational Pneumology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Publication date: 2004-01-01

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