Effects on the ciliary activity and morphology of rabbit's nasal epithelium exposed to tetrahydrofuran
Ohashi, Y.; Nakai, Y.; Nakata, J.; Ikeoka, H.; Maruoka, K.; Horiguchi, S.; Teramoto, K.
Osaka City Medical Journal 29(1): 1-14
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6096 PMID: 6676696 Document Number: 220770
The respiratory toxicity of tetrahydrofuran (THF), a well-known organic chemical, was studied. Adult rabbits were exposed to THF in varying concentrations (100, 250, 1000, 2000, 6000, 12,000 ppm) for 4 h in an exposure chamber. The nasal ciliary activity was examined by the photoelectric method and the nasal epithelium was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Transient or irreversible declines of nasal ciliary activity and morphological changes of the nasal epithelial cells were clarified. The degree of decline of ciliary activity and of morphological changes of epithelial cells had a correlation with the exposure concentration of THF. The respiratory toxicity of THF was discussed with special reference to its allowable level in workroom air.