EFFECT OF INTRATRACHEAL AMOSITE EXPOSURE ON THE ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OFRAT LUNG

The changes in antioxidant status of rat lung after intratracheal amos ite instillation were studied and correlated with two early markers of lung injury. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed 24 hours afte r the exposure, the cells were counted and the lavage fluid and lung t issue were analysed and compared with the control animals. Lipid perox ides, markers of oxidative damage, were enhanced in the lung tissue bu t the level of antioxidant vitamins and activity of glutathione peroxi dase was lowered. The amount of ascorbic acid was significantly decrea sed in BAL. The activity of alkaline phosphatase and the total amount of protein, two early markers of lung injury, were increased in BAL an d were closely correlated with the observed changes in antioxidant sta tus.