title: Adverse effects attributed to long-term radon inhalation in rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the adverse effect of long-term radon exposure on lung and blood cells in rats exposed to different radiation doses. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to radon for cumulative doses up to 66, 111, and 174 WLM (work level month). Total number and differential cells counts were determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the peripheral blood, as well as the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and levels of glutathione (GSH) and total protein. DNA damage and interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA expression in BALF cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detected by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The results showed that radon-exposed lymphocytes were significantly lower and granulocytes higher in BALF compared to blood in exposed groups. The distance of DNA migration in the BALF and PBMC increased in a dose-dependent manner. A positive correlation between the PBMC and BALF cells in terms of DNA damage was noted. These findings suggested that PBMC might be used as a surrogate for BALF cells and thus the easier non-invasive ability to obtain PBMC may be useful in detection of lung DNA damage induced by radon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Radiation Medicine and Public Health, Soochow University. Suzhou. China.
authors.forename: Bing-Yan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011886:Radon / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005978:Glutathione; D011886:Radon