Histometric changes in connective fibers of the lung following paraquat administration in rats.
Pulmonary fibrosis induction by paraquat was studied histometrically using an image analyzer. Rats were given a subcutaneous injection of paraquat (7 or 25 mg/kg) and autopsied 3, 6 or 9 days later. The percentage of the area of connective fibers per unit area, and lung prolyl hydroxylase activity, as a biochemical parameter, were measured. Rats treated with 25 mg/kg of paraquat showed an increase in the percentage of the area of the connective fibers per unit area and also an increase in lung prolyl hydroxylase activity 6 days later. Thus, pulmonary fibrosis was confirmed both morphologically and biochemically. It is concluded that histometric examination using an image analyzer provides a very accurate method for the evaluation of pulmonary fibrosis.
Shirai
M
M
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Fujise
H
H
Masaoka
T
T
Takeda
S
S
Tsuboi
T
T
Akahori
F
F
D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity*; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase; D010269:Paraquat