title: Quantification of hyperbaric oxygen-induced toxicity utilizing a malarial system.
abstract: This study was undertaken in recognition of the need to develop quantitative systems to evaluate the toxicity associated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure. Malaria-infected (P. berghei berghei) mice were briefly exposed to 100% oxygen at 3 ATA on day 10 of infection. At 25, 48, and 72 h thereafter, the levels of circulating erythrcytes and percent parasitized RBC were monitored and compared to those of infected non-exposed controls. The total erythrocyte counts of the infected HBO-exposed and non-exposed mice did not differ significantly. In contrast, percent parasitized cells in the oxygen-exposed mice were lowered to 55-60% control values at 24, 48, and 72 h. The mechanism of this difference needs further study, but we believe that P. berghei-infected erythrocytes are preferentially hemolyzed as a consequence of HBO exposure. this mode system is useful in the study of HBO-induced toxicity because of its high degree of selectivity and sensitivity and its amenability to strict quantification over a period of at least several days.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen