Biochemical changes in rat lung during acute paraquat intoxication.
Paraquat (PQ) was administered intraperitoneally to male Wistar rats at a dose of 30 mg/kg. This dose caused mortality in 14% of the animals and significantly increased the lung wet weight by 28 and 93% at 2 and 3 days after treatment, respectively, compared to controls. The activity of several enzymes present in the lung was affected by PQ treatment. Pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was significantly reduced at 4 h after PQ treatment and remained 32-36% below control levels during the following 3-day observation period. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the lung was significantly decreased by 26-33% at 1, 2, and 3 days after PQ treatment. Lung glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity demonstrated a drop at 4 h, recovery to control levels at 1 day, and a subsequent rise to levels 45-55% higher than control levels at 2 and 3 days. Glutathione reductase activity in the lung decreased significantly by 21% at 2 and 3 days. These changes in enzyme activities, which may reflect effects on different cell populations of the lung and process of damage and reparation, may prove to be useful as biochemical indicators of PQ toxicity.
Jurima-Romet
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Biosciences Division, Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, North York, Ontario, Canada.
Shek
P N
PN
D000818:Animals; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D011506:Proteins; D010269:Paraquat