title: An automated system for animal exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
abstract: We have designed an automated system for controlled exposure of rodents to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The system consists of 1) two stainless-steel exposure chambers (3.96 m3), for control and treated animals, in which temperature, humidity, and air changes are consistent with current guidelines for rodent housing; 2) a cylinder containing 1% NO2 in N2; 3) a detector connected with a personal computer system that monitors the NO2 concentration, and regulates the NO2 influx, using a closed-loop feedback; and 4) a fan system to distribute the gas uniformly within the chambers. In a typical experiment rats were exposed to 15 ppm of NO2, and changes in the differential count of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were investigated.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erroi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moggi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dal Molin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alongi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zucchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmona
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide