Bio-effects of water soluble taurine multi-wall carbon nanotubes on lungs of mice
Wang, X.; Deng, X-yong.; Wang, H-fang.; Liu, Y-fang.; Wang, T-cheng.; Gu, Y-qun.; Jia, G.
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 41(2): 85-90
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-9624 PMID: 17605231 Document Number: 608557
Objective To track the translocation of water soluble taurine multi-wall carbon nanotubes ((14) C-tau-MWCNTs) in lungs of the Kunming mice and evaluate the acute lung toxicity of intratracheally instilled tau-MWCNTs in Kunming mice. Methods Healthy adult Kunming mice were randomly grouped by their body weight ( 5 mice in each group). The lungs of mice were intratracheally instilled with 0. 125, 0. 25, 0. 5 and 1 mg/kg of water soluble tau-MWCNTs and phosphate-bulfered saline ( PBS) as negative control. After exposure of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the blood and lung tissue were collected. Blood were assessed by using biochemical biomarkers of alkaline phosphatase ( ALP), lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) and angiotensin converting enzyme ( ACE). Lung tissues were assessed by histopathology. The intratracheal instillation of 14 C-tau-MWCNTs was conducted in the same way, after 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days, 14 C-activity of the samples was counted in several organs, tissues, blood and feces etc. Results 14 C-activities were detected only in lungs, and with the exposure time proceeding the radioactivity descending from (80 +/- 7. 7) % of the 1(st) day to (22 +/- 6. 9) % of the 28(th) day. Activity of all groups of ALP and LDH went to the highest level on the 7(th) day postexopsure, and back to the control level on the 28(th) day post-exposure, but LDH of 1 mg,/kg group ( 14. 18 +/- 1. 70) mu mol center dot s (-1) center dot L (-1)] was still higher than that of control [ ( 10. 95 +/- 3. 51) mu mol center dot s (-1) center dot L (-1)] after 28 days' exposure. There was no significant changes observed in the activity of ACE. Histopathology found that lungs of all groups presented significant increase in pulmonary inflammation, lung cell proliferation. Many tau-MWCNTs were clearly found in some alveolar macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells. Conclusion Intratracheal instillation of water soluble tau-MWCNTs could induce slight bio-effects on lungs of Kunming mice.