title: [Effect of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure in mice brain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure of mice brain and to investigate the toxicity of bitumen fume on nerve system of mice brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental mice were forced to inhale the bitumen fume at different exposure level and in different time periods. The contents of the three transmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in mice brain were measured by the fluorescence meanwhile ultrastructure of mice brain was observed by electronic microscope. The ultrastructure of mice brain was observed under transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contents of DA, NE and 5-HT in all groups decreased with the increasing of dose and prolonging of time (after 8 week, with the increasing of exposure lever, the content of DA, NE, 5-HT was respectively 2.194, 2.190, 2.181, 2.178 microg/g and 1.148, 1.138, 1.135 and 1.407, 1.403, 1.395 microg), but the results did not show significant differences. The structure of the mitochondria changes included the swollen mitochondria, chromatin margination, pyknosis and apoptosis in neuro cells and the processes of swollen astrocyte cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bitumen fume could induce changes of the ultrastructure of mice brain and affect the contents of neurotransmitter of mice brain.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: San-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chang-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C006647:asphalt