Effects of Diesel Exhaust on Heart Health in Rats
Author Information
Author(s): Gottipolu Reddy R., Wallenborn J. Grace, Karoly Edward D., Schladweiler Mette C., Ledbetter Allen D., Krantz Todd, Linak William P., Nyska Abraham, Johnson Jo Anne, Thomas Ronald, Richards Judy E., Jaskot Richard H., Kodavanti Urmila P.
Primary Institution: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hypothesis
DE inhalation would cause greater inflammation, hematologic alterations, and cardiac molecular impairment in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats than in healthy Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.
Conclusion
DE inhalation produces a hypertensive-like cardiac gene expression pattern associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress in healthy rats.
Supporting Evidence
- DE exposure caused 377 genes to be differentially expressed within WKY rats.
- Most genes affected by DE were down-regulated in WKY.
- Cardiac mitochondrial aconitase activity decreased after DE exposure in both strains.
- Neutrophilic influx was noted in the lung lavage fluid of both strains.
Takeaway
Breathing in diesel exhaust can change how the heart works in healthy rats, making it act like the heart of a rat with high blood pressure.
Methodology
Male rats were exposed to air or diesel exhaust for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks, and various cardiac and pulmonary measures were assessed.
Limitations
The study did not measure blood pressure changes in response to DE exposure.
Participant Demographics
Healthy male WKY rats and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats, aged 12-14 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website