Bioaccumulation and behavioural effects of depleted uranium in rats exposed to repeated inhalations.
Depleted uranium has numerous industrial and military uses. Contamination by inhalation of airborne compounds is probably the most important route of exposure. In humans, there are no data clearly demonstrating neurotoxicity of uranium, yet some experimental studies suggest a link between neurological toxicity and uranium exposure. In this work, the bioaccumulation of uranium in male rats after exposure to repeated depleted uranium dioxide inhalation (30 min inhalation at 197 mgm(-3), 4 days a week for 3 weeks) has been studied, together with the behavioural effects. The uranium concentrations in the brain 1 day after the end of the exposure period varied as follows: olfactory bulb>hippocampus>frontal cortex>cerebellum, subsequently decreasing rapidly. The spontaneous locomotion activity of exposed rats was increased 1 day post exposure and the spatial working memory was less efficient 6 days post exposure, compared with control rats. These data suggest that depleted uranium is able to enter the brain after exposure to repeated inhalation, producing behavioural changes.
Monleau
Marjorie
M
Laboratoire de radiotoxicologie expérimentale, IRSN/DRPH/SRBE/LRTOX, BP166, 26702 Pierrelatte, France. marjorie.monleau@irsn.fr
Bussy
Cyrill
C
Lestaevel
Philippe
P
Houpert
Pascale
P
Paquet
François
F
Chazel
Valérie
V
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001822:Body Burden; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011874:Radiometry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014501:Uranium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium