Enhanced inflammatory response to acute ozone exposure in rats during pregnancy and lactation

Experimental evidence from several studies suggests that pregnant animals and women are more susceptible to oxidants than nonpregnant controls. In the study reported here, we sought to determine whether pregnant rats are more sensitive than age-matched virgin females to the inflammatory effects of o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fundamental and applied toxicology 1992-11, Vol.19 (4), p.607-612
Main Authors: Gunnison, Albert F., Weideman, Patricia A., Sobo, Mary
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Female
FEMALES
Gas, fumes
INDICATORS
INFLAMMATION
Inflammation - chemically induced
LACTATION
Lactation - physiology
LAVAGE
MAMMALS
Medical sciences
OZONE
Ozone - toxicity
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POLLUTION
PREGNANCY
Pregnancy, Animal - physiology
RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT
RATS
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SYMPTOMS
Toxicology
VERTEBRATES 560300 > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
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Summary:Experimental evidence from several studies suggests that pregnant animals and women are more susceptible to oxidants than nonpregnant controls. In the study reported here, we sought to determine whether pregnant rats are more sensitive than age-matched virgin females to the inflammatory effects of ozone, a gaseous oxidant of considerable environmental significance. Rats at several stages of pregnancy and lactation, as well as age-matched virgin females, were exposed to 1 ppm ozone for 6 hr. Controls were sham-exposed to pure air for an identical period of time. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 24 hr after the beginning of exposure, and components of the lavage fluid considered to be indicators of inflammation were used to assess the severity of pulmonary inflammation. The results of this experiment showed that significantly enhanced sensitivity to ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation develops during pregnancy, is maintained during lactation, and disappears following lactation. Implicit in this pattern of differential sensitivity in rats is the possibility of a similar pattern of inflammatory response in analogous groups of humans as well as the potential for applicability to other oxidative pollutants.
ISSN:0272-0590
1095-6832
DOI:10.1016/0272-0590(92)90100-V