Induction of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes after short time inhalation of nitric oxide.
BACKGROUND
inhalation of nitric oxide (INO) leads to vasodilation of pulmonary vasculature in ventilated regions of the lung. The clinical use of INO, although not formally approved as a drug, is widespread. NO may rapidly form nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in an oxygen containing gas mixture. NO2 has been shown to induce chromosome aberrations and mutations in both animal and bacterial test systems. We investigated whether a 2-h exposure to NO would increase frequencies of cells with chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of human volunteers.


METHODS
10 volunteers were exposed to inhaled NO 40 parts per million (ppm) for 2 h. Pre- and post-exposure blood samples were analysed.


RESULTS
no statistically significant differences (p</=0.05) in chromosome aberrations were observed between pre- and post-exposure samples.


CONCLUSIONS
no detectable increase of chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes after 2 h of NO-inhalation 40 ppm was found.
Luhr
O R
OR
Division of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Karolinska Institute at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. owe.luhr@ane.ds.sll.se
Frostell
C G
CG
Heywood
R
R
Riley
S
S
Lönnqvist
P
P
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide