Toxicity of a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins to mouse lungs
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
37(8): 1225-1229, Aug. 2004. ilus, graf
Artigo
em Inglês
| LILACS
| ID: lil-362561
RESUMEN
Toxic cyanobacteria in drinking water supplies can cause serious public health problems. In the present study we analyzed the time course of changes in lung histology in young and adult male Swiss mice injected intraperitoneally (ip) with a cyanobacterial extract containing the hepatotoxic microcystins. Microcystins are cyclical heptapeptides quantified by ELISA method. Ninety mice were divided into two groups. Group C received an injection of saline (300 µl, ip) and group Ci received a sublethal dose of microcystins (48.2 µg/kg, ip). Mice of the Ci group were further divided into young (4 weeks old) and adult (12 weeks old) animals. At 2 and 8 h and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after the injection of the toxic cyanobacterial extract, the mice were anesthetized and the trachea was occluded at end-expiration. The lungs were removed en bloc, fixed, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The percentage of the area of alveolar collapse and the number of polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear cell infiltrations were determined by point counting. Alveolar collapse increased from C to all Ci groups (123 to 262 percent) independently of time, reaching a maximum value earlier in young than in adult animals. The amount of PMN cells increased with time of the lesion (52 to 161 percent). The inflammatory response also reached the highest level earlier in young than in adult mice. After 2 days, PMN levels remained unchanged in adult mice, while in young mice the maximum number was observed at day 1 and was similar at days 2, 3, and 4. We conclude that the toxins and/or other cyanobacterial compounds probably exert these effects by reaching the lung through the blood stream after ip injection.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Assunto principal:
Toxinas Bacterianas
/
Cianobactérias
/
Inibidores Enzimáticos
/
Pulmão
Limite:
Animais
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Assunto da revista:
Biologia
/
Medicina
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
País de afiliação:
Brasil
Instituição/País de afiliação:
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR
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