Lung Carcinogenic Bioassay of CuO and TiO(2) Nanoparticles with Intratracheal Instillation Using F344 Male Rats

Toxicity assessment of nanoparticles, now widespread in our environment, is an important issue. We have focused attention on the carcinogenic potential of copper oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide (TiO(2)). In experiment 1, a sequential pilot study, the effectiveness of a carcinogenic bioassay featuring intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 20 mg 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) or 0.1% N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) in drinking water for 2 weeks was examined. Based on the results, DHPN, as the lung carcinogen, and evaluation at week 30 were selected as the most appropriate for our purposes in Experiment 1. In experiment 2, the carcinogenic bioassay was used to assess the carcinogenic potentials of instilled nanoparticles of CuO and TiO(2). There were no significant intergroup differences in the lung neoplastic lesions induced by DHPN, although the neoplastic lesions induced by the nanoparticles in the CuO or TiO(2) intratracheal instillation (i.t.) groups, demonstrated a tendency to increase compared with the microparticles administration. At the very least, the carcinogenic bioassay with DHPN proved useful for assessment of the modifying effects of instilled particles, and further assessment of the carcinogenic potential of nanoparticles appears warranted.     

Time course of the incidence/multiplicity and histopathological features of murine colonic dysplasia,adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by benzo[a]pyrene and dextran sulfate sodium

Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) is mutagenic but noncarcinogenic in the murine colon. Recently, we reported rapid induction of colonic tumors by treatment of CD2F₁ mice with BP (125 mg/kg for 5 days) followed by a colitis inducer, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) (4% in drinking water for 1 or 2 weeks). However, there are no reports on detailed time course and histopathological features of colonic proliferative lesions in this model. Here, we show the detailed time course of colonic dysplasia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by treatment with BP, DSS, and a combination of the two (BP/DSS). In the colon of mice exposed to BP/DSS, 14.6 dysplastic foci per mouse were present one week after DSS treatment (week 4). The number of dysplastic foci decreased with time to 3.1 at week 9 and thereafter remained almost constant. At week 4, 1.5 adenocarcinomas were also observed, with a marked increase in numbers with time, reaching 29.3 at week 14. In contrast, the number of dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone showed a time course similar to that following BP/DSS treatment; however, only a few tumors appeared. Neither dysplastic foci nor neoplastic lesions were induced by BP only. In mice exposed to BP/DSS, β-catenin was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of the tumor cells, and this translocation from the cell membrane was evident in subsets of dysplastic foci. In dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone, β-catenin was absent in the nucleus/cytoplasm. These finding suggest that aberrant β-catenin accumulation in dysplastic foci is associated with tumor progression in this BP/DSS model.     

表皮生长因子对葡聚糖硫酸钠诱导的结肠炎模型小鼠肠道损伤的修复研究

本文旨在讨论表皮生长因子(EGF)对葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导的结肠炎模型小鼠肠道损伤的修复作用。选用24只6周龄BALB/c小鼠,随机分为3组,即:正常对照组、DSS模型对照组、DSS+EGF组。正常对照组小鼠饮用自来水;DSS模型对照组小鼠在试验第1~7天饮用5%DSS水溶液,第8~10天饮用自来水;DSS+EGF组小鼠按照DSS模型对照组处理,同时每天皮下注射EGF 2次,共注射10 d。结果表明:1)与正常对照组相比,DSS模型对照组小鼠结肠长度极显著降低(P0.01);与DSS模型对照组相比,DSS+EGF组小鼠结肠长度极显著增加(P0.01)。2)DSS模型对照组小鼠结肠可见典型溃疡,结肠损伤程度评分(CDS)极显著高于正常对照组(P0.01);DSS+EGF组小鼠结肠组织未见溃疡,与DSS模型对照组相比,CDS极显著降低(P0.01)。3)与正常对照组相比,DSS模型对照组小鼠结肠紧密连接蛋白(Occludin)浓度显著降低(P0.05);与DSS模型对照组相比,DSS+EGF组小鼠结肠Occludin浓度显著升高(P0.05)。4)与正常对照组相比,DSS模型对照组小鼠结肠白细胞介素-2(IL-2)和白细胞介素-4(IL-4)浓度极显著降低(P0.01),白细胞介素-10(IL-10)浓度显著降低(P0.05);与DSS模型对照组相比,DSS+EGF组结肠IL-2和IL-4浓度极显著增加(P0.01),IL-10浓度显著增加(P0.05)。由此可见,EGF可能通过提高肠道Occludin表达水平,调节肠道细胞因子浓度趋于正常水平,从而修复受损肠道组织,维持肠道黏膜屏障的完整性。     

Toxicity of Nicotine by Repeated Intratracheal Instillation to F344 Rats

In vivo, nicotine in cigarette smoke induces various effects not only on the respiratory system but also the central and peripheral nerve systems, circulatory organs and digestive organs, and there is a possibility of promotion of lung tumorigenesis. The present experiment was conducted to examine histopathological changes caused by nicotine in the lung with repeated intratracheal instillation (i.t.). Six-week-old male F344 rats were administered nicotine by i.t. at doses of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg nicotine/rat every 3 weeks beginning at week 4, for up to a total of 9 times and were then sacrificed at week 30. The total number of administrations, total dose of nicotine and effective number of rats were 9 times, 0.45 mg and 5 rats and 4 times, 0.20 mg and 5 rats for the 0.05 mg nicotine/rat group; 3 times, 0.30 mg and 5 rats and 4 times, 0.40 mg and 3 rats for the 0.1 mg group; and 3 times, 0.60 mg and 3 rats for the 0.2 mg group, respectively. As a control group, 5 rats were administered 0.2 ml saline/rat 9 times. Some rats administered 0.1 and 0.2 mg nicotine suffered convulsions just after administration. Histopathologically, though proliferative changes were not observed, neutrophil infiltration, edema and fibrosis in the lung were induced by nicotine. In conclusion, repeated treatment of nicotine promoted neurologic symptoms in the acute phase, and strong inflammation in the lungs in the chronic phase, even at a low dose. Toxicity of nicotine is suggested to depend not on total dose of nicotine in the experiment but rather on repeated injury with consecutive administration.     

辣木叶总黄酮对小鼠溃疡性结肠炎防治作用的研究

【目的】以葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导的溃疡性结肠炎(UC)小鼠为模型,探究辣木叶总黄酮(MOLF)对UC的防治作用。【方法】将50只BALB/c小鼠随机分为5组：对照组、DSS组(模型组)和MOLF-L(25 mg/kg)、MOLF-M(50 mg/kg)、MOLF-H(100 mg/kg)处理组,每组10只。小鼠通过饮用4%DSS诱导UC模型,各MOLF处理组灌胃相应剂量药物0.2 mL,对照组和DSS组灌以等体积的生理盐水,每天1次,连续7 d。每天记录各组疾病活动指数(DAI),在末次给药的次日经眼眶静脉丛采血,分离血清测定白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)和内毒素(LPS)含量;小鼠脱颈处死后取结肠组织进行HE染色观察组织形态、PAS染色观察组织杯状细胞数量变化;实时荧光定量PCR法检测结肠组织中IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-10、HMGB1 mRNA表达水平;免疫荧光法检测肠黏膜闭锁连接蛋白-1(ZO-1)和闭合蛋白(Occludin)表达情况;Western blotting分析凋...     

Augmented Activity of the Pelvic Nerve Afferent Mediated by TRP Channels in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis of Rats

Enteritis has been recognized as a major symptom in domestic animals and human patients suffering from feed and food poisonings. The aim of the present study was to clarify the excitatory mechanism of the pelvic nerve afferent which may influence the occurrence of enteritis in response to nociceptive chemical stimuli of the colon in normal and abnormal rats with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The pelvic nerve afferent activity was markedly increased by colonic instillation of solution (0.5 ml) of acetic acid (5-25%) and capsaicin (100μg/ml). The nerve activity was augmented by colonic instillation of capsaicin to a greater extent in rats with DSS-induced colitis than in normal control rats. This augmented activity by capsaicin was more prominent at one day (DSS-1) than at 8 day (DSS-8) after the administration of DSS. The increased nerve activity caused by capsaicin in DSS-1 and DSS-8 was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with ruthenium red, which is a nonselective inhibitor of TRP channels of unmyelinated C-fibers (nociceptors). In conclusion, it was elucidated that the nociceptive function of the pelvic nerve was largely elevated at one day after DSS-induced colitis and such increased function was mostly mediated by TRP channels.     

Comparison of acute inhalation toxicity of sulfuric acid by the inhalation and intratracheal instillation methods

Recently, intratracheal instillation has been focused on as a simple, low-cost alternative to the inhalation method. In this study, intratracheal instillation of sulfuric acid, a typical acidic compound, was performed to compare the acute toxicity of acidic compounds that could cause damage to the respiratory system between intratracheal instillation and inhalation. Sulfuric acid was administered to male rats at doses of 0.7, 2, 7, 20, and 60 mg/kg by dividing the total dose into four doses. General condition and body weight were examined up to 14 days after administration, and macropathological and histopathological examinations were performed. The half-lethal dose was then estimated. All animals administered 20 and 60 mg/kg sulfuric acid and one animal administered 2 mg/kg sulfuric acid died within 4 h after administration. No abnormalities were observed in other animals. At 20 and 60 mg/kg, multiple red foci or diffuse red areas were macroscopically observed in the lungs. In these lesions, histopathologically, clefts between the mucosal epithelium and basement membrane and necrosis of the alveolar epithelium were observed. Deaths in these groups may have resulted from lung injury. No notable changes were observed in other animals. Therefore, the half-lethal dose of sulfuric acid by intratracheal instillation was estimated as 7–20 mg/kg. The acute toxicity by intratracheal instillation was evaluated with two-fold sensitivity since the exposure at the half-lethal sulfuric acid concentration in inhalation studies was calculated as 43.2 mg/kg.     

The effect of kefir on glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in mice with colonic abnormal crypt formation (ACF) induced by azoxymethane (AOM)

In this study we investigated the effect of kefir on the levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) in the liver, stomach, spleen and colon of mice with colonic aberrant crypts formed by azoxymethane (AOM). Thirty 12 weeks old Swiss Albino mice averaging 31.5 g weight were used as experimental animals. The mice were separated into 3 groups. The first group was the control group, second group was the AOM and third group was the AOM+kefir group. We applied AOM to the second and third groups. Mice were fed ad libitum by laboratory rodent chow during the experiment period. Water was given to the first and second groups and third group received only kefir diluted with water (50%). AOM was injected subcutaneously to the second and third groups for 7 weeks (two times a week, 5 mg/kg). Six weeks after the final AOM treatment the animals were sacrificed and liver, stomach, spleen and colon samples were collected from all the groups. MDA level demonstrated an increase only in stomach for the third group (p < 0.001), while an elevation was observed for all of the four organs for the second group (spleen p < 0.001, liver p < 0.001, colon p < 0.01). GSH level showed an increase in the second group at stomach (p < 0.01) and colon (p < 0.001), while in the third group, a small increase was determined only at the colon (p < 0.05). NO level increased at all of the organs in the second group (spleen, liver, colon p < 0.001, stomach p < 0.05), but only at liver and colon in the third group 3 (p < 0.001). In conclusion these results showed that kefir plays an antioxidant role.     

Acute Phase Pulmonary Responses to a Single Intratracheal Spray Instillation of Magnetite (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles in Fischer 344 Rats

Iron nanomaterials are of considerable interest for application to nanotechnology-related fields including environmental catalysis, biomedical imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia, because of their superparamagnetic characteristics and high catalytic abilities. However, information about potential risks of iron nanomaterials is limited. The present study assessed pulmonary responses to a single intratracheal spray instillation of triiron tetraoxide nanoparticles (magnetite) in rats. Ten-week-old male and female Fischer 344 rats (n=5/group) were exposed to a single intratracheal spray instillation of 0 (vehicle), 5.0, 15.0 or 45.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) of magnetite. After 14 days, the rats were sacrificed, and biological consequences were investigated. The lung weights of the 15.0 and 45.0 mg/kg BW male and female groups were significantly higher than those of the control groups. The lungs of treated rats showed enlargement and black patches originating from the color of magnetite. The typical histopathological changes in the lungs of the treated rats included infiltration of macrophages phagocytosing magnetite, inflammatory cell infiltration, granuloma formation and an increase of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. The results clearly show that instilled magnetite causes foreign body inflammatory and granulating lesions in the lung. These pulmonary responses occur in a dose-dependent manner in association with the increase in lung weight.     

银杏内酯A对LPS诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

为了研究银杏内酯A对非特异性肺损伤小鼠的保护作用,采用脂多糖（LPS）滴鼻法建立了小鼠急性肺损伤（ALI）模型。于造模前1h给予银杏内酯A（50,100mg/kg）,在LPS滴入后18h检测支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中的细胞因子TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β水平,观察肺部组织学的病理变化。结果表明：银杏内酯A可以显著抑制肺组织中炎性细胞的浸润,抑制肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素6（IL-6）和白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）炎性细胞因子的产生。由此得出结论,银杏内酯A对LPS诱导的小鼠ALI具有一定的保护作用。     

虾青素对小鼠结肠急性氧化损伤的保护作用

试验旨在研究虾青素对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠急性结肠炎及氧化应激的影响。选择 6 周龄健康雄性 ICR 小鼠 32 只,随机分为 4 组,其中对照组和 LPS 组小鼠连续 15 d 灌胃橄榄油,虾青素组和虾青素保护组小鼠连续 15 d 灌胃 50 mg/kg 虾青素,15 d 后对照组和虾青素组腹腔注射生理盐水,LPS 组和虾青素保护组腹腔注射 1 mg/kg LPS,3 h 后处死,采集血液及结肠组织。ELISA 和荧光定量 PCR 检测血清及结肠中炎性因子和抗氧化酶水平,生物化学法测定结肠中氧化水平,Western blot 检测结肠中 p-NF-κB p65 蛋白相对表达量,HE 染色观察结肠病理形态学变化。结果表明:与对照组相比,LPS 组小鼠血清和结肠组织中炎症因子的表达及 NF-κB p65 蛋白的活化均显著升高(P<0.05),组织抗氧化水平低(P<0.05),结肠黏膜损伤严重;与 LPS 组相比,保护组小鼠血清和结肠组织中炎症因子表达及 NF-κB p65 蛋白的活化均显著降低(P<0.05),组织抗氧化水平高(P<0.05),且结肠黏膜损伤程度低。虾青素可保护小鼠结肠黏膜结构,通过抑制 NF-κB信号通路降低机体中炎性因子的分泌,提高组织抗氧化水平,缓解 LPS 引起的急性结肠损伤。     

An intratracheal instillation bioassay system for detection of lung toxicity due to fine particles in f344 rats

It is an urgent priority to establish in vivo bioassays for detection of hazards related to fine particles, which can be inhaled into deep lung tissue by humans. In order to establish an appropriate bioassay for detection of lung damage after particle inhalation, several experiments were performed in rats using quartz as a typical lung toxic particle. The results of pilot experiments suggest that Days 1 and 28 after intratracheal instillation of 2 mg of fine test particles in vehicle are most appropriate for detection of acute and subacute inflammatory changes, respectively. Furthermore, the BrdU incorporation on Day 1 and the iNOS level on Day 28 proved to be suitable end-point markers for this purpose. An examination of the toxicity of a series of particles was performed with the developed bioassay. Although some materials, including nanoparticles, demonstrated toxicity that was too strong for sensitive assessment, a ranking order could be clarified. The bioassay thus appears suitable for rapid hazard identification with a possible ranking of the toxicity of various particles at single concentrations.     

Ghrelin对雌激素诱导小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡的抑制作用

6周龄BALB/c雌性小鼠80只,分为4组：雌激素＋Ghrelin组、雌激素＋生理盐水组、生理盐水组、空白对照组。雌激素＋Ghrelin组首先隔日腹腔注射苯甲酸雌二醇（0.1mg/只）2周,然后采用相同方法注射Ghrelin（120μg/只）2周;雌激素＋生理盐水组首先注射苯甲酸雌二醇2周,然后注射生理盐水2周;生理盐水组注射生理盐水4周;空白对照组不注射任何试剂。测量各组小鼠的胸腺指数,同时应用光镜、电镜和流式细胞术检测胸腺的显微结构、超微结构和胸腺细胞凋亡率。结果雌激素＋Ghrelin组的胸腺指数极显著大于雌激素＋生理盐水组,胸腺细胞凋亡率极显著小于雌激素＋生理盐水组（P〈0.01）,而二者与生理盐水组和空白对照组均差异不显著（P〉0.05）;雌激素＋Ghrelin组的胸腺显微结构和超微结构基本恢复正常,并与生理盐水组和空白对照组相似。结论得出Ghrelin可以通过抑制胸腺细胞凋亡和促进胸腺细胞增殖,从而逆转雌激素诱导的小鼠胸腺萎缩。     

Effects of the bronchoalveolar lavage procedure on lung function in horses with clinical exacerbation of recurrent airway obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) alters respiratory mechanics of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (ie, heaves) over a 48-hour period. ANIMALS: 6 horses affected with heaves. PROCEDURES: Horses were subjected to a complete BAL procedure, which included sedation with xylazine and butorphanol, intratracheal administration of lidocaine, and instillation and aspiration of two 250-mL boluses of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution through an endoscope (study 1). To evaluate the effects of saline solution, horses were subjected to the same procedure without saline solution instillation and aspiration (study 2). Lastly, the endoscope was similarly introduced into the lower airways, without sedation or saline instillation and aspiration (study 3). Respiratory mechanics were performed at baseline (time 0) and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after each procedure. RESULTS: In study 1, BAL induced a significant decrease in pulmonary resistance lasting up to 6 hours. This may have resulted from clearance of mucus in large airways. We also observed a significant increase in lung elastance and transpulmonary pressure at 12 hours after BAL in all 3 studies, which may be attributed to a circadian effect. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results indicate that the temporal effects of BAL procedures on lung mechanics should be taken into account when designing research protocols involving horses with heaves. Future studies should address the immediate effects of BAL on lung function.     

No Promoting Effect of Ethyl Tertiary-butyl Ether (ETBE) on Rat Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis Initiated with N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine

The effects of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) on two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis in male F344 rats initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) were investigated at various dose levels with regard to possible promoting activity. Groups of 30 rats were given drinking water containing 500 ppm BBN, as an initiator, for 4 weeks and starting one week thereafter received ETBE by gavage (daily, 7 days/week) at dose levels of 0 (control), 100, 300, 500 or 1000 mg/kg/day until experimental week 36. No statistically significant differences in incidences of preneoplastic lesions, papillomas, and carcinomas of the urinary bladder were evident in rats treated with 100–1000 mg/kg/day ETBE as compared with control values. Furthermore, the average numbers of preneoplastic or neoplastic lesions per unit length of basement membrane in rats given 100–1000 mg/kg/day ETBE were also comparable to control values. However, papillomatosis of the urinary bladder was found in 4 out of 30 rats (13%) in the group given 1000 mg/kg/day ETBE, and soft stones in the urinary bladder were found in 3 out of these 4 rats. The results thus demonstrated that ETBE did not exert promotional activity on urinary bladder carcinogenesis. However, papillomatosis of the urinary bladder developed in small numbers of the rats given ETBE at 1000 mg/kg/day but not in rats given 500 mg/kg/day or lower doses.     

Long-term Pulmonary Responses to Quadweekly Intermittent Intratracheal Spray Instillations of Magnetite (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles for 52 Weeks in Fischer 344 Rats

Information about potential risks of iron nanomaterials is still limited, while a wide variety of applications are expected. We recently reported acute phase responses of male and female Fischer 344 rats after a single intratracheal spray instillation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (magnetite), clearly showing dose-dependent pulmonary inflammatory changes (Tada et al., J Toxicol Pathol 25, 233–239, 2012). The present study assessed long-term responses of male and female Fischer 344 rats to multiple administrations of magnetite. Ten-week-old male and female Fischer 344 rats (n=20/group) were exposed to a total of 13 quadweekly intermittent intratracheal spray instillations of magnetite during the experimental period of 52 weeks, at doses of 0, 0.2 (low), 1.0 (medium) and 5.0 (high-dose) mg/kg body weight per administration. Absolute and relative lung weights of the high-dose group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Macroscopically, slight enlargement and scattered black patches were recognized in the lungs and the lung-associated lymph nodes of the high-dose group. Histopathologically, infiltration of macrophages phagocytosing magnetite (all dose groups) and of chronic inflammatory cells (medium- and high-dose males and high-dose females), alveolar bronchiolization and granuloma (high-dose group) were observed. In addition, alveolar hyperplasias were observed in some rats of the high-dose group, and cytoplasmic overexpression of β-catenin protein was immunohistochemically found in such lesions. The present results clearly show that instilled magnetite causes chronic inflammatory responses in the lung. These responses occur in a dose-dependent manner without apparent differences among sexes     

Conjunctival vaccination of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) with bacille Calmette-Guérin

AIM: To determine the efficacy of conjunctival vaccination of captive brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), as measured by immunological responses to vaccination and response to intratracheal challenge with Mycobacterium bovis. METHODS: Nine adult male brushtail possums were vaccinated by the instillation of a suspension of BCG strain Pasteur 1173P2 into the conjunctival sac of each eye. Each drop contained approximately 2.5 x 105 colony forming units (cfu). At 8 weeks post-vaccination (pv) the vaccinated possums and 10 unvaccinated possums were challenged by intratracheal instillation of approximately 100 cfu of M. bovis. Cellular immune responses to bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) antigen were measured using the lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA). Possums surviving to 50-51 days after challenge were euthanised and subjected to detailed post-mortem examination, including histopathology, to assess protection against tuberculosis. Sections of lung and spleen were cultured for M. bovis. RESULTS: No conjunctival inflammation or other adverse reactions to the administration of the vaccine were evident macroscopically. The vaccinated group showed a systemic cellular immune response to bovine PPD antigen at 4 and 8 weeks pv, and the response at 8 weeks was significantly greater than at 4 weeks (p<0.05). Conjunctival vaccination induced significant levels of protective immunity, measured as less mass of tuberculous lesions in lung (p<0.05) and less dissemination of disease in vaccinated compared with unvaccinated possums (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival vaccination with BCG induced a significant level of protective immunity against M. bovis infection in possums. This route of vaccination, together with intranasal aerosol vaccination, could be utilised in the delivery of an aerosolised vaccine using a device that sprays the vaccine suspension into the eyes and nose of possums.     

微囊化益生菌对小鼠急性溃疡性结肠炎的影响

试验旨在观察微囊化布拉迪酵母菌（Saccharomyces boulardii,S.boulardii）与微囊化粪肠球菌（Enterococcus faecium,E.faecalis）对小鼠溃疡性结肠炎（UC）的治疗效果并探讨其作用机制。采用3%葡聚糖硫酸钠（dextran sulfacte sodium,DSS）灌胃法制备小鼠UC动物模型,试验共分为6组,其中饮用DSS的小鼠随机分为5组：粪肠球菌菌粉组、微囊化粪肠球菌组、布拉迪酵母菌菌粉组和微囊化布拉迪酵母菌组给予不同的药物治疗,药物皆以溶液形式灌胃给药,UC模型小鼠（DSS组）每天饮用与药物等体积的生理盐水;正常对照组灌服与药物等体积的生理盐水。观察UC小鼠的症状和组织学变化,ELSIA检测血清中细胞因子（IL-6、IL-10与TNF-α）的含量,Western blotting检测小鼠结肠黏膜紧密连接蛋白（Occludin和Claudin-1）表达量。结果显示,与模型组相比,治疗后各益生菌组小鼠血清中TNF-α和IL-6含量均显著降低（P<0.05）,IL-10含量显著升高（P<0.05）,微囊化益生菌组小鼠髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性及结肠损伤组织学评分（粪肠球菌粉组除外）均显著下降（P<0.05）,布拉迪酵母菌菌粉组与微囊化布拉迪酵母菌小鼠结肠黏膜内Occludin和Claudin-1表达量均显著升高（P<0.05）。粪肠球菌和布拉迪酵母菌可以缓解UC模型小鼠结肠炎症病变,且经过微囊化后的粪肠球菌和布拉迪酵母菌表现出更好的缓解小鼠急性溃疡性结肠炎病症效果,其机制与粪肠球菌和布拉迪酵母菌可以降低血清中IL-6与TNF-α含量,提高Occludin与Claudin-1的表达量密切相关。     

Repeated blood instillation into the airway of the horse does not cause pulmonary fibrosis

Reasons for performing the study: Exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) occurs in nearly all strenuously exercising horses. Recent studies have attempted to identify the role of free blood within the airspaces, in the lung fibrosis that develops within the lungs of EIPH horses. Hypothesis: Repeated exposure of the equine lung to autologous blood results in lung fibrosis similar to that observed in spontaneous EIPH. Methods: Forty ml of autologous blood from the jugular vein was instilled into preselected lung regions of 6 horses one, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times at 2 week intervals, with 40 ml of saline instilled into the contralateral lung serving as a control. The time interval between instillation of the first blood and euthanasia ranged from 2–10 weeks. The lung from each instillation site was harvested, and the histopathology was scored from each region based upon the presence and abundance of blood, haemosiderin and interstitial collagen. Consequently, at the time of euthanasia, the time since instillation of the first blood ranged from 2–10 weeks. Results: Beyond retention of blood, and the accumulation of haemosiderin, there was no visible increase in perivascular and interstitial collagen within the blood‐instilled lung sites. In a small number of regions, there were foci of bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia with collagen accumulation within these foci, but no collagen accumulation with the characteristic perivascular and interstitial histological distribution seen in EIPH. Conclusions: Free blood within the airways of horses does not result in a qualitative increase in the amount of interstitial collagen within 8–10 weeks, and is therefore an unlikely aetiological factor in the lung collagen accumulation that occurs in EIPH. Potential relevance: This study emphasises the efficiency of the equine lung in clearing blood from the airspaces. Further, it suggests that the aetiopathogenesis of EIPH is not driven by events within the airspace lumen, but rather emanates from within the vasculature and lung interstitium.     

Time-course comparison of pulmonary inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of four different nickel oxide nanoparticles in male Fischer rats

Occupational exposure to nickel oxide (NiO) is an important cause of respiratory tract cancer. Toxicity is known to be associated with the dissociated component, i.e. nickel (II) ions. To address the relationship between physicochemical properties, including solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid, of NiO and time-course changes in the pulmonary response, we conducted an intratracheal instillation study in male Fischer rats using four different well-characterized NiO products, US3352 (NiO A), NovaWireNi01 (NiO B), I small particle (NiO C), and 637130 (NiO D). The NiOs were suspended in purified water and instilled once intratracheally into male F344 rats (12 weeks old) at 0 (vehicle control), 0.67, 2, and 6 mg/kg body weight. The animals were euthanized on days 3, 28, or 91 after instillation, and blood analysis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) testing, and histopathological examination were performed. The most soluble product, NiO B, caused the most severe systemic toxicity, leading to a high mortality rate, but the response was transient and surviving animals recovered. The second-most-soluble material, NiO D, and the third, NiO A, caused evident pulmonary inflammation, and the responses persisted for at least 91 days with collagen proliferation. In contrast, NiO C induced barely detectable inflammation in the BALF examination, and no marked changes were noted on histopathology. These results indicate that the early phase toxic potential of NiO products, but not the persistence of pulmonary inflammation, is associated with their solubility.