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CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ULTRAFINE CARBON PARTICLES IN HYPERTENSIVE RATS (SHR)
Citation:
UPADHYAY, S., V. HARDER, M. SCHLADWEILER, M. SEMMLER, S. TAKENAKA, E. KARG, P. REITMEIR, M. BADER, A. STAMPFL, U. P. KODAVANTI, T. STOEGER, AND H. SCHULZ. CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ULTRAFINE CARBON PARTICLES IN HYPERTENSIVE RATS (SHR). Presented at American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, May 18 - 23, 2007.
Description:
Rationale: Epidemiological evidence suggests that ultrafine particles are associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, specifically in elderly individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was (i) to assess cardiopulmonary responses in adult (6 months) and geriatric (13 months) SHR following 24 h inhalation exposure to ultrafine carbon particles (ufCP, 23 nm, 5x106cm-3) and (ii) to identify pathways leading to cardiopulmonary complications.
Methods: Electrocardiogram and blood pressure were monitored telemetrically over a 6-day period covering baseline (day 0), exposure (day 1), and recovery period (days 2-5). In addition, groups of non-equipped SHR were sacrificed immediately or 48 h after exposure and lavage as well as blood samples were taken and analyzed for markers of inflammation and blood pressure.
Results: There was a delayed cardiovascular response to exposure with (i) a transient diastolic blood pressure (dBP) elevation on day 2 after exposure, more pronounced in geriatric SHR, which preceded (ii) an increase in heart rate (HR) on day 3 in both age groups. No associations between acute ufCP exposure and various inflammatory indices in lung and blood were observed, but some markers remain to be analysed.
Conclusions: Cardiac effects in hypersensitive rats seem to be independent of inflammatory reactions in the lungs suggesting (i) altered autonomic cardiac function and/or (ii) direct particulate mediated effects after systemic translocation. (This abstract does not reflect US EPA policy).