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Research Article

Pulmonary exposure to carbon black by inhalation or instillation in pregnant mice: Effects on liver DNA strand breaks in dams and offspring

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Pages 486-500 | Received 15 Dec 2010, Accepted 26 Apr 2011, Published online: 08 Jun 2011
 

Abstract

Effects of maternal pulmonary exposure to carbon black (Printex 90) on gestation, lactation and DNA strand breaks were evaluated. Time-mated C57BL/6BomTac mice were exposed by inhalation to 42 mg/m3 Printex 90 for 1 h/day on gestation days (GD) 8–18, or by four intratracheal instillations on GD 7, 10, 15 and 18, with total doses of 11, 54 and 268 μg/animal. Dams were monitored until weaning and some offspring until adolescence. Inflammation was assessed in maternal bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 3–5 days after exposure, and at weaning. Levels of DNA strand breaks were assessed in maternal BAL cells and liver, and in offspring liver. Persistent lung inflammation was observed in exposed mothers. Inhalation exposure induced more DNA strand breaks in the liver of mothers and their offspring, whereas intratracheal instillation did not. Neither inhalation nor instillation affected gestation and lactation. Maternal inhalation exposure to Printex 90-induced liver DNA damage in the mothers and the in utero exposed offspring.

Acknowledgements

Technical assistance from Gitte Kristiansen, Michael Guldbrandsen, Lourdes Petersen, Julie Hansen, Elzbieta Christiansen, Signe Hjortkjær Nielsen, Maria Hammer, Anne-Karin Jensen is greatly appreciated.

Declaration of interest: The study was supported by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation; the Danish Working Environment Research Fund (Nanokem); ISMF; the Danish Research Council; and the Comet analysis with the high throughput protocol was developed with the support of COMICS LSHB-CT-2006-037575. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.