Trichloroethylene induced cutaneous irritation in BALB/c hairless mice: histopathological changes and oxidative damage.
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a colorless and volatile organic solvent, has long been a major chemical hazard during occupational exposure because of its extensive use in industry. Exposure to TCE can cause significant skin lesions, but the effect of TCE on skin irritation has received little attention. We therefore investigated the effect of TCE on skin irritation and oxidative stress using hairless mice. BALB/c hairless mice were subjected to acute and cumulative topical TCE treatment. Skin reactions were evaluated by visual inspection, histopathology examined by microscopy and oxidative stress assessed by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and nitric oxide (NO) production. Under acute and cumulative TCE irritation, the skin developed erythema and edema, and the predominant histopathological features were hyperkeratosis, spongiosis and inflammatory cell infiltrates. In parallel to these morphological changes, acute TCE irritation also concentration-dependently increased MDA levels and inhibited SOD activities of the skin. However, in cumulative irritation, the MDA levels and SOD activities were initially elevated with increased TCE concentrations, but thereafter reduced with further concentration increments; the linear dose-response relationship was not preserved. TCE also concentration-dependently increased NO production both in acute and cumulative irritation. These results suggest that TCE is capable of producing skin irritation effect in vivo, with histopathological changes characterized by hyperkeratosis, spongiosis and inflammatory cell infiltrates. Moreover, oxidative stress may be associated with the clinical manifestations and histopathological abnormalities in TCE-induced skin irritation.
Shen
Tong
T
Institute of Dermatology, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, PR China.
Zhu
Qi-Xing
QX
Yang
Sen
S
Wu
Chang-Hao
CH
Zhang
Hong-Fu
HF
Zhou
Chen-Fan
CF
Zhang
Xue-Jun
XJ
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007509:Irritants / Q000633:toxicity*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*
D007509:Irritants; D012997:Solvents; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase