Toxicological responses of wistar rats exposed to controlled emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide

Abstract

Context: The inhalation of pollutants of automobile origin induces blood disturbances, especially noncommunicable diseases, in humans. However, there are no studies highlighting the effects induced by car pollutants. From this perspective, this study aims to evaluate the effects of at least two (02) pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), on oxidative stress and inflammation after a single exposure for four hours (04 h). Materials and methods: Ten male Wistar strain rats were randomly divided into two groups of five (05): the control group (179.00±5.916 g) unexposed and the group exposed to CO and NO2 (188.00±13.13 g). CO and NO2 were produced by the combustion gas oil using a device contained in a sealed metal box supplied with ambient air by a pump. The ranges of CO and NO2 concentrations to which the rats were exposed varied between 35 and 45 ppm and between 0.2 and 0.3 ppm, respectively. The blood samples were taken at 24 hours after the end of the manipulations. A malondialdehyde (MDA) assay was performed on supernatant using the GENESYS 10S UV Visible Spectrophotometer. Tumour Necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in the supernatant stored at-80 C were examined with an ELISA kit. Results: The mean values of MDA (17,771±6.624 nM/ml) and TNF-α (83,050±7.483 μg/ml) observed in the exposed group were significantly higher (p˂ 0.01) than those recorded in the control group (MDA (7.097±1.882 nM/ml) and TNF-α (6.410±3.160 μg/ml). Conclusion: Exposure to CO and NO2 for at least 4 hours induces the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the exacerbation of