[Effect of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure in mice brain].
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.
Li
Hai-Ling
HL
School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Guo
Xiang-Yun
XY
Feng
San-Wei
SW
Liu
Chang-Hai
CH
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*
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C006647:asphalt