Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(3):165-170 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3881

Effect of TiO₂ Nanofibres on Selected Bronchoalveolar Parameters in Acute and Subacute Phase - Experimental Study

Marta Hurbánková¹, Silvia Černá¹, Zuzana Kováčiková¹, Soňa Wimmerová¹, Dominika Hrašková¹, Jana Marcišiaková², Štefánia Moricová¹

¹ Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Laboratory of Respiratory Toxicology, Bratislava, Slovakia

² Medical-Preventive Limited Liability Company, Hnusta, Slovakia

Titanium dioxide nanofibres (TiO₂) were intratracheally instilled in dose of 4 mg/0.2 mL saline solution per animal (Wistar rats). After 48 hours and 14 days the animals were exsanguinated (under i.p. thiopental narcosis), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was perfomed and cells from BAL fluid were isolated. Following inflammatory, cytotoxic and oxidative stress BAL parameters were examined: differential cell count (% of alveolar macrophages (AM), polymorphonuclears and lymphocytes); the viability and phagocytic activity of AM; the proportion of immature cells; the proportion of multinucleated cells; count of AM/mL lavage; count of BAL cells/ mL lavage; the level of ascorbic acid and activity of superoxide dismutase, both in tissue homogenate and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The majority of examined BAL parameters in the acute and subacute phase in our study suggest serious inflammatory and cytotoxic processes in lung after exposure to TiO₂.

Keywords: TiO₂ nanofibres, inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters, bronchoalveolar lavage, intratracheal instillation

Received: November 19, 2012; Revised: June 19, 2013; Accepted: June 19, 2013; Published: September 1, 2013  Show citation