Prolonged, Intravenous Paraquat Infusion in the Rat. II. Paraquat-Induced Alterations in Lung Polyamine Metabolism
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-30-1988
Description
The effects of paraquat (PQ) on lung putrescine, spermidine, and spermine levels, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity were assessed in rats after 7 days of iv infusion of the herbicide via osmotic minipump. Paraquat administration at a rate of 250 nmol/hr [673 ± 40 nmol/kg/hr (n = 15)] had no effect on these parameters. In contrast, significant (p < 0.05) elevations in lung putrescine (407% of control), spermidine (202% of control), and ODC activity (174% of control were measured in lungs of rats given 500 nmol PQ/hr [1.31 ± 0.53 μmol/kg/hr (n = 14)]. Since evidence of lung damage was, likewise, observed only in the high-dose PQ rats, these changes in polyamine metabolism could have been a nonspecific response to PQ-induced lung injury rather than a direct biochemical effect of PQ. The results suggest that stimulation of polyamine biosynthesis may play an important role in PQ-induced lung injury. This role may involve regulation of repair mechanisms or, conversely, the polyamines may actually mediate PQ-induced fibrotic changes in the lung.
Citation Information
Dunbar, Jacob R.; DeLucia, Anthony J.; Acuff, Robert V.; and Ferslew, Kenneth E.. 1988. Prolonged, Intravenous Paraquat Infusion in the Rat. II. Paraquat-Induced Alterations in Lung Polyamine Metabolism. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Vol.94(2). 221-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(88)90263-3 PMID: 3388419 ISSN: 0041-008X