title: Toxicity to alveolar macrophages in rats following parenteral injection of mercuric chloride.
abstract: Alveolar macrophages collected by pulmonary lavage from male Fisher-344 rats at intervals (24-72 h) after HgCl2 injection (1-5 mg/kg, s.c.) were analyzed by several techniques. Within 24-72 h, the macrophages showed morphological signs of activation (hypertrophy and ruffled plasma membrane). Lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde concentration) was not detected until 48 h. Dose- and time-related effects of HgCl2 on malondialdehyde concentration and mercury content of alveolar macrophages were observed 24-72 h postinjection. Diminished cell viability occurred only at 72 h after the highest dosage of HgCl2. This study demonstrates that the alveolar macrophage was a cellular target for mercury toxicity following parenteral exposure to HgCl2.
authors.affiliation: School of Technology for Medical Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008627:Mercuric Chloride