title: Pulmonary Responses of Sprague-Dawley Rats in Single Inhalation Exposure to Graphene Oxide Nanomaterials.
abstract: Graphene is receiving increased attention due to its potential widespread applications in future. However, the health effects of graphene have not yet been well studied. Therefore, this study examined the pulmonary effects of graphene oxide using male Sprague-Dawley rats and a single 6-hour nose-only inhalation technique. Following the exposure, the rats were allowed to recover for 1 day, 7 days, or 14 days. A total of three groups were compared: control (fresh air), low concentration (0.46 ± 0.06 mg/m(3)), and high concentration (3.76 ± 0.24 mg/m(3)). The exposure to graphene oxide did not induce significant changes in the body weights, organ weights, and food consumption during the 14 days of recovery time. The microalbumin and lactate dehydrogenase levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were not significantly changed due to the exposure. Similarly, total cell count, macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and lymphocytes were not significantly altered in the BAL fluid. Plus, the histopathological examination of the rat lungs only showed an uptake of graphene oxide in the alveolar macrophages of the high-concentration group. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the single inhalation exposure to graphene oxide induce minimal toxic responses in rat lungs at the concentrations and time points used in the present study.
authors: Toxicology Laboratory, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung Gu
authors: SG
authors: Han
authors: Institute of Nano Products Safety Research, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin Kwon
authors: JK
authors: Kim
authors: Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, KCOMWEL, Incheon 403-711, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Shin
authors: Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, KCOMWEL, Incheon 403-711, Republic of Korea.
authors: Joo Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Hwang
authors: Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, KCOMWEL, Incheon 403-711, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jong Seong
authors: JS
authors: Lee
authors: Institute of Nano Products Safety Research, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Republic of Korea.
authors: Tae-Gyu
authors: TG
authors: Kim
authors: Institute of Nano Products Safety Research, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ji Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors: Gun Ho
authors: GH
authors: Lee
authors: Institute of Nano Products Safety Research, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Republic of Korea.
authors: Keun Soo
authors: KS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dong-a University, Busan 602-714, Republic of Korea.
authors: Heon Sang
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Center for Nanosafety Metrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon 305-340, Republic of Korea.
authors: Nam Woong
authors: NW
authors: Song
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kangho
authors: K
authors: Ahn
authors: Institute of Nano Products Safety Research, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Republic of Korea.
authors: Il Je
authors: IJ
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D006108:Graphite / Q000633:toxicity*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite