title: Histologic and ultrastructural alterations in lungs of rats exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of hydrogen sulfide.
abstract: Fischer-344 rats were killed 1, 18, and 42 hr after a single 4-hr exposure to an atmosphere of 0, 116, or 615 mg m-3 of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Lungs, fixed by the intratracheal route, were examined by light and electron microscopy. Histologic changes were transient and mainly present in rats exposed to 615 mg m-3 H2S. Lesions included severe but transitory pulmonary edema and fibrinocellular alveolitis which was restricted to the proximal alveolar region of the lung. Electron microscopically, ciliated bronchiolar cells were the only cells that developed necrosis; they were rapidly replaced by mitosis. Alveolar endothelium had cytoplasmic blebs, but alveolar epithelium had minor changes. No mast cell degranulation was detected in lungs with edema. A 4-hr exposure to 615 mg m-3 is markedly edematogenic for the lung but only moderately cytotoxic for pulmonary cells.
authors.affiliation: Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lillie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gulayets
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Atwal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide