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Molecular and histological responses in rat skin exposed to m ‐xylene
Author(s) -
Gunasekar Palur G.,
Rogers James V.,
Kabbur Mahendra B.,
Garrett Carol M.,
Brinkley William W.,
McDougal James N.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.526
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0461
pISSN - 1095-6670
DOI - 10.1002/jbt.10065
Subject(s) - irritation , nitric oxide synthase , chemistry , xylene , infiltration (hvac) , inflammation , pathology , immunology , biochemistry , enzyme , biology , medicine , physics , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , benzene
Abstract Solvents, surfactants, cutting fluids, hydrocarbons, and oils cause skin irritation by incompletely understood mechanisms. This study examined histological and molecular changes in rodent skin caused by brief topical exposures to m ‐xylene. At 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after 1‐h exposure, skin samples were removed and analyzed for histopathological changes and interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein levels. Histopathological changes (epidermal–dermal separation and granulocyte infiltration) and increases in IL‐1α and iNOS protein expression occurred during our observation period. IL‐1α levels increased by 80% immediately after exposure and iNOS levels increased about 60% 4 hours after exposure. Our study demonstrates that dermal exposure to m ‐xylene promotes IL‐1α and iNOS production in skin and these proteins may serve as early indicators of skin irritation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:92–94, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10065