CHANGES IN ABSORBENCY AT 413 NM IN PLASMA FROM 3 RODENT SPECIES EXPOSED TO PHOSGENE

Mice, rats and guinea pigs were exposed to phosgene (COCl2), a highly irritating and oxidizing gas. Animals were exposed to 87 mg/m(3) phosg ene for 20 min in a whole-body exposure chamber. Within 55-65 minutes after the start of exposure, plasma was scanned spectrophotometrically from 200-600 nm. A distinct and significant increase in area under th e curve in the Soret band region at 413 nm was observed in plasma from phosgene-exposed animals when compared with air-exposed controls in a ll three species. These peaks were consistent with hemoglobin, an indi cation that the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane had been comprom ised by exposure. An erythrocyte osmotic fragility assay on blood from mice exposed to phosgene indicated that 30% less NaCl was needed to c ause 50% hemolysis compared to air-exposed mice. These results suggest a new mechanism of phosgene-induced acute lung injury that may be lin ked, in part, to a direct attack on the erythrocyte membrane. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.