Apoptosis effect on pulmonary macrophage induced by butylhydroxytoluene under subacute toxic exposure in rats

  Objective   To study the apoptosis effect induced by Butylhydro xytoluene(BHT)on macrophage in lungunder subacute toxic exposure.

  Methods   40 SD rats were divided randomly into three different doses g roups of BHT and one group as menstruum control and one group as control.The rats of BHT groups were given separately by the dose of 300, 600 and 1 200 mg/kg(po)for 8 days.

  Results   At the end of exposure, the body weight(bw)of rat in BHT exposed groups were all decreased in the fourth day, especially the high dose group.At the eighth day the bw of rats in BHT groups have trends to increase, but which were still lower than control group.Coefficient of lung and liver were increased with the BHT dose raising.SGPT, SGOT in liver also raised and sho wn in a manner of dos-eeffect relationship, and inosine also be found raising in high BHT dose group.Pulmonary patho logy determination showed that there were raised alveolus spacing and interstitial inflammation in middle and high BHT dose groups, but fibrosis were not found.Hepatic pathology showed that some of point necrosis were found in cells which were around the liver central veins, especially the high dose g roup in which pseudolobules and fibrosis also be found.By means of technology of PI fluorescence stain and comet assay, ithad been found that BHT could induce apoptosis to pulmonary macrophage in the perfusate of isolated perfused rat lungs.

  Conclusion   BHT may cause functional and organic damage of lung and liver, and it can induce apoptosis to pulmonary macrophage in rats.