Comparative study of pathological lesions induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in lungs of mice by intratracheal instillation and inhalation.
The pathological lesions induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in bronchi and alveoli of mice were studied by intratracheal instillation and inhalation. In instillation groups, the dose was 0.05 mg MWCNTs/mouse. Similar size clumps of MWCNTs were distributed in bronchi and alveoli. The clumps led to inflammation to the lining wall of bronchi and severe destruction to alveolar netted structure around them. In the inhalation groups, the mice were exposed to aerosolized MWCNTs with mean concentration of 32.61 mg/m(3), the intralung deposition dose were roughly 0.07, 0.14, and 0.21 mg in the 8-day group, 16-day group, and 24-day group, respectively. Most of aggregations of MWCNTs in the alveoli were smaller than that in bronchi. The aggregations induced proliferation and thickening of alveolar walls. With the exception of these moderate pathological lesions, the general alveolar structure was still remained. The preliminary study demonstrated a difference in lung pathological lesions induced by instilled MWCNTs and inhaled ones, which may be due to the different size and distribution of aggregations of MWCNTs in lung.
Li
Jun-Gang
JG
Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
Li
Wen-Xin
WX
Xu
Jing-Ying
JY
Cai
Xiao-Qing
XQ
Liu
Rui-Li
RL
Li
Yong-Jun
YJ
Zhao
Qun-Fen
QF
Li
Qing-Nuan
QN
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D014132:Trachea
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon