Ozone-induced alterations in collagen metabolism of rat lungs
Last, J.A.; Greenberg, D.B.; Castleman, W.L.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 51(2): 247-258
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-008X PMID: 531890 Document Number: 151592
Rats were exposed to amounts of O3 ranging from 0.5-2.0 ppm for intervals of 1, 2 or 3 wk. Collagen synthesis rates in their lungs were quantitated by biochemical analyses performed with lung minces. Correlative histological observations were made in different lung lobes from the same rats. At all levels of O3 tested, collagen synthesis rates of the lungs were significantly elevated and histologically discernible fibrosis of the alveolar duct walls was observed. Within the range of O3 concentrations studied, the elevation of collagen synthesis rate in exposed rats was a linear function of the level of O3 to which the animals were exposed. Exposure of rats to near-ambient levels of O3 causes biochemically and histologically discernible fibrotic changes in their lungs, suggesting that such effects may occur at levels of O3 at or near the current ambient air quality standard for this pollutant.