Inhalation of Talc Induces Infiltration of Macrophages and Upregulation of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in Rats.
Talc is a mineral that is widely used in cosmetic products, antiseptics, paints, and rubber manufacturing. Although the toxicological effects of talc have been studied extensively, until now no detailed inhalation study of talc focusing on oxidative stress has been done. This repeated 4 weeks whole-body inhalation toxicity study of talc involved Sprague-Dawley rats. Male and female groups of rats were exposed to inhaled talc at 0, 5, 50, and 100 mg/m(3) for 6 hours daily, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. The objective was to identify the 4-week inhalation toxicity of talc and investigate antioxidant activity after exposure to talc. There were no treatment-related symptoms or mortality in rats treated with talc. Glucose (GLU) was decreased significantly in male rats exposed to 50 and 100 mg/m(3) of talc. Histopathological examination revealed infiltration of macrophages on the alveolar walls and spaces near the terminal and respiratory bronchioles. In male and female rats exposed to 100 mg/m(3) talc, expression of superoxide dismutase 2, a typical biological indicator of oxidative damage, was significantly increased. Thus, inhalation of talc induces macrophage aggregations and oxidative damage in the lung.
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Ilseob
I
Shim
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Hyun-Mi
HM
Kim
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Sangyoung
S
Yang
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Min
M
Choi
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Gyun-Baek
GB
Seo
College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
Byung-Woo
BW
Lee
College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea similseob@korea.kr byoon@kangwon.ac.kr.
Byung-Il
BI
Yoon
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Pilje
P
Kim
Department of Environmental Health Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Kyunghee
K
Choi
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D055745:Bronchioles / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013627:Talc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D013627:Talc; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
GPx1; SOD2; inhalation; macrophage; talc