[Characteristics of acute and chronic intoxication induced by rocket propellant nitrogen tetroxide].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of acute and chronic injuries of the nitrogen tetroxide, a kind of propellant of rocket.


METHODS
128 male rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: acute control group (56), acute nitrogen tetroxide intoxication group (56), long-term response group (8). The animals were killed sequentially at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Nitrogen tetroxide was administrated through inhalation at the concentration of 81 mg/m3 for 15 min. Chronic injuries and pathologic changes were also observed one year after the intoxication.


RESULTS
Pulmonary edema was the main pathological changes after intoxication, complicated with partial haemorrhage. Data acquired from long-term observations showed 75% pulmonary fibrosis and one case of adenocarcinoma of lung.


CONCLUSIONS
The first 2 to 6 h after intoxication is the most severe stage of the injury. During the long-term observation, we find that intoxication with nitrogen tetroxide can induce pulmonary fibrosis and adenocarcinoma.
Yue
Mao-xing
MX
The 306th Hospital of the PLA, Beijing, China. yuemx@cetin.net.cn
Peng
Rui-yun
RY
Wang
Zheng-guo
ZG
Wang
De-wen
DW
Yang
Zhi-huan
ZH
Yang
He-ming
HM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; C015167:nitrogen tetroxide