Translocation Pathway of the Intratracheally Instilled Ultrafine Particles from the Lung into the Blood Circulation in the Mouse

Recently, it has been demonstrated that ultrafine particles (UFPs) are able to translocate from the lung into the systemic circulation. Precise mechanisms of the anatomical translocation (crossing the air–blood barrier) of inhaled UFPs at the alveolar wall are not fully understood. In this study, we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicologic pathology 2006-01, Vol.34 (7), p.949-957
Main Authors: Shimada, Akinori, Kawamura, Natsuko, Okajima, Mina, Kaewamatawong, Theerayuth, Inoue, Hiromi, Morita, Takehito
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Basement Membrane - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Blood - metabolism
Blood-Air Barrier - physiology
Chromosome aberrations
Endothelial Cells - metabolism
Erythrocytes - metabolism
Intubation, Intratracheal
Lung - metabolism
Lung - pathology
Lymph Nodes - metabolism
Male
Medical genetics
Medical sciences
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Microscopy, Electron
Nanoparticles - toxicity
Suspensions
Toxicology
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Summary:Recently, it has been demonstrated that ultrafine particles (UFPs) are able to translocate from the lung into the systemic circulation. Precise mechanisms of the anatomical translocation (crossing the air–blood barrier) of inhaled UFPs at the alveolar wall are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the translocation pathway of the intratracheally instilled ultrafine carbon black (UFCB) from the lung into the blood circulation in mouse. Electron microscopy demonstrated accumulation of intratracheally instilled UFCB in the large-sized gaps developing between the cytoplasmic processes of the alveolar epithelial cells, possibly as a result of shrinkage of cytoplasm, by receiving stimulus/signals generated and released following UFCB attachment on the alveolar epithelial cells. Occasional penetration of the accumulated UFCB into the alveolar basement membrane, exposing to the air space, was observed at the gap. These results suggest that inhaled UFPs may, in part, pass the air-blood barrier through the large-sized gap formed between the alveolar epithelial cells.
ISSN:0192-6233
1533-1601
DOI:10.1080/01926230601080502