title: Metal mixture inhalation (Cd-Pb) and its effects on the bronchiolar epithelium. An ultrastructural approach.
abstract: The current study explores the effects of the inhalation of lead (Pb), Cd and its mixture (Pb-Cd) in a mice model, analysing metal concentrations in the lung, and the morphological modifications in the bronchiolar epithelium identified by scanning electron microscopy after eight weeks of inhalation. Our results indicate that metal concentrations in lung were higher compared to controls; however, Pb concentrations drastically decrease in the mixture. This reduction was also observed in the inhalation chamber. The main changes observed in the bronchiole were mostly in the mixture. The modifications were mainly given by Cd alone and in the mixture, with a decreased number of nonciliated bronchiolar cells and an increased number of bundles of dividing cells. The additive effect of Pb-Cd is suggested, as the extensive damage observed was more evident when mice were exposed to the mixture, and the results endured more research in the area of inhaled mixtures.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. fortoul@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: Teresa I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Fortoul
authors.forename: Maria-Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Avila-Costa
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espejel-Maya
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mussali-Galante
authors.forename: Maria del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Avila-Casado
authors.forename: Maria Isidra
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hernández-Serrato
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saldivar-Osorio
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead