[Damage on lung and systemic inflammation induced by nickel sulfate intratracheal instillation in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the acute toxic effects induced by nickel sulfate (NiSO4) in order to clarify the possible role of nickel in PM2.5.


METHODS
Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, NiSO4 was administered by intratracheal instillation at the doses of Ni 0, 7.5, 75 and 750 microg/kg for 24h respectively. The rats were sacrificed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected and analyzed to estimate the injury (total protein (TP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) and inflammation of lung. Blood were collected and parameters of inflammation (total cell numbers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha)) and CRP were measured. The nickel levels in the blood were also determined.


RESULTS
NiSO4 induced significant increases of leukocytes, neutrophil, TP contents and LDH activity in BALF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BALF of NiSO4-treated rats increased significantly compared with those of the control group (P < 0.05). The level of TNF-alpha in blood of NiSO4-treated rats increased significantly compared with the control group. Concentrations of CRP in the serum were more higher in NiSO4-treated rats than the control group, but statistical significances were only seen in the highest dosage group (Ni 750 microg/kg). Nickel in serum of NiSO4-treated rats increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
NiSO4 induced pulmonary and systemic inflammation effects in rats, suggested that NiSO4 may play an important role in the acute effects of PM2.5.
Deng
Furong
F
Department of Occupational & Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. frdeng@yahoo.com.cn
Guo
Xinbiao
X
Xia
Pingping
P
Liu
Hong
H
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; C029938:nickel sulfate; D009532:Nickel