| Abstract: | Background This study was performed within the scope of two multi-center European Commission-funded projects (HEPMEAP and PAMCHAR) concerning
source-composition-toxicity relationship for particulate matter (PM) sampled in Europe. The present study aimed to optimize
the design for PM in vivo toxicity screening studies in terms of dose and time between a single exposure and the determination of the biological responses
in a rat model mimicking human disease resulting in susceptibility to ambient PM. Dust in thoracic PM size-range (aerodynamic
diameter <10 μm) was sampled nearby a road tunnel (RTD) using a high volume cascade impactor. Spontaneously hypertensive rats
were exposed to urban dust collected in Ottawa, Canada (EHC-93 10 mg/kg of body weight; reference PM) or different RTD doses
(0.3, 1, 3, 10 mg/kg of body weight) by intratracheal instillation. Necropsy was performed at 4, 24, or 48 hr after exposure. |
