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H L Hong

Publications and source records attributed to H L Hong.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evaluation of tissue disposition, myelopoietic, and immunologic responses in mice after long-term exposure to nickel sulfate in the drinking water.

Female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to graded doses of nickel sulfate to determine a threshold response for myelotoxicity and immunotoxicity, and to identify which of the populations of lymphoreticular cells were most sensitive to the toxic effects of nickel. Animals were given free access to the chemical in the drinking water at 0, 1, 5, or 10 g/l for 180 d. Water consumption, blood and tissue nickel concentrations, body and organ weights, histopathology, immune responses, bone marrow cellularity and proliferation, and cellular enzyme activities were evaluated. There was no mortality. Mice in the 5-g/l and 10-g/l dose groups drank less water than controls; the responses measured in the 10-g/l group may have been due to a combination of dehydration and chemical toxicity. Decreases in body and organ weights were confined to mice in the 10-g/l dose group, except for the dose-related reductions in thymus weights. Blood nickel was measured at 4, 8, 16, and 23 wk of exposure. The mean blood nickel values showed increases between 4 and 8 wk that were proportional to time and dose; thereafter there was no substantial increase in blood nickel in any of the dose groups, except for an increase in the mean blood concentration in the 10-g/l group at 23 wk. The kidney was the major organ of nickel accumulation. The primary toxic effects of nickel sulfate were expressed in the myeloid system. There were dose-related decreases in bone marrow cellularity, and in granulocyte-macrophage and pluripotent stem-cell proliferative responses. In unfractionated bone marrow cells glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity from the hexose monophosphate shunt was more sensitive to nickel sulfate than were representative glycolytic or Krebs cycle enzymes, with 25-35% maximum inhibition at 5 g/l and 10 g/l. Aliquots of bone marrow cells were separated into enriched bands of lymphocytes, granulocyte-macrophages, and erythrocytes; enzyme inhibition that occurred in unfractionated bone marrow cell aliquots was only expressed after cell separation in the enriched granulocyte-macrophage cell population, suggesting that these committed stem cells were a primary target of nickel sulfate toxicity. There was one example of systemic immunotoxicity, reduction in the lymphoproliferative response to lipopolysaccharide, and it was regarded as secondary to the primary effect of nickel sulfate on the myeloid system, since this was the only significant change among a panel of seven immune parameters that were evaluated.

Animals↗

Comparative effects of ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether exposure on hematopoiesis and histopathology in B6C3F1 mice.

Ethylene Glycol (EG) or Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (EGMME) was administered by gavage to both sexes of B6C3F1 mice for 4 consecutive days at total doses of 200, 400, and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Bone marrow parameters were examined on days 1, 5, and 14 after the final treatment. Exposure to EG produced hypocellularity and suppression of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (CFU-C) colony formation in both sexes on days 1 and 5 postexposure. Values returned to normal by day 14 in the female mice but not in the males. Erythropoiesis, as measured by 59Fe incorporation and quantitation of erythroid precursors in culture (CFU-E), revealed no effect in female mice and affected male mice at the high dose only. In contrast, EGMME exposure in female mice resulted in inhibition of erythropoiesis. There was also a pronounced effect on white blood cells with decreased peripheral counts, and decreases in the number of CFU-C's cultured from marrow cells. The effect of EGMME was also seen at the lower dose levels and was sustained through the 14-day evaluation period. In addition, EGMME caused a 20% decrease in testicular weight, which was shown microscopically to be a segmented degeneration of seminiferous tubules, an effect not found with EG. This study demonstrates that EGMME is more myelotoxic in mice than EG and that pancytopenia is more pronounced in males, while erythropoiesis is more affected in females.

Animals↗

Effect of cell shape on proteinase secretion by epithelial cells.

Cell proliferation has been found to correlate with increased secretion of proteinases, such as plasminogen activator, in several different cell populations. In addition, the shape of the cell may also play a role in regulating proteinase secretion. However, the relationship between cell proliferation, cell shape and proteinase secretion has not been studied in diploid epithelial (E) cells cultured from porcine periodontal ligament (PL). We have modified PLE cell shape by physical means, such as growth on less-adhesive substrata and mechanical stretching, and by exposure to cholera toxin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Neutral proteinase and plasminogen activator secretion were found to correlate with cell shape, the more round the cells, the greater the amount of proteinase secreted. PLE cells, stimulated to proliferate by cholera toxin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, were more spread than control cells, but secreted less neutral proteinase and plasminogen activator. TPA stimulated cell proliferation slightly but, in contrast to cholera toxin, increased cell rounding and the secretion of neutral proteinase and plasminogen activator. Thus proteinase secretion was related more to cell shape than to cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Myelotoxicity induced in female B6C3F1 mice by inhalation of methyl isocyanate.

The effects of a 4-day inhalation exposure (6 hr/day) to 0, 1, and 3 ppm methyl isocyanate (MIC) on bone marrow parameters in female mice were examined at 5, 8, and 21 days following exposure. The MIC exposure was associated with myelotoxicity as evidenced by hypocellularity, suppression of pluripotent stem cells (CFU-S), granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) and erythroid precursors (CFU-E) in both dose groups. Hematopoietic parameters returned to normal by 21 days in the 1 ppm dose group, but not in the 3 ppm dose group. This indicates that the alterations in the bone marrow parameters persist for a relatively long period at dose levels where there are little or no changes in body weight, clinical pathology, or immunological parameters, suggesting that the bone marrow may be a sensitive endpoint for MIC exposure in mice. MIC is a highly reactive chemical that appears to exert its effect directly on the lining epithelium of the nasal cavity and major airways; there was no histological evidence of a systemic effect. The pathogenesis of the bone marrow depression is unknown; however, there were chronic bronchitis and bronchial fibrosis in the 3 ppm dose group. One possible explanation is that the cell injury induced in the lung is associated with the release of inhibitory factors for hematopoiesis, as the rodent lung is a potent source of both stimulatory and inhibitory growth factors for bone marrow progenitor cells. A second possibility is that the thymic atrophy found in MIC-exposed mice might be related to myelotoxicity. The pathogenesis of myelotoxicity in MIC exposure and its relationship with pulmonary injury require further study.

Animals↗

Regression of methyl bromide-induced forestomach lesions in the rat.

There is continuing concern about the role of irritation in cancer development. Methyl bromide, a widely used fumigant and known irritant reported to cause forestomach carcinomas in rats, was dissolved in peanut oil and given by gavage at 50 mg/kg body wt to Wistar rats five times per week for 13 to 25 weeks. Starting at Week 13, methyl bromide administration was discontinued for half of the methyl bromide-treated rats (stop treatment group). After that, rats from both the continuous treatment and stop treatment groups were terminated at 4-week intervals to follow the progression of the stomach lesions. Forestomach lesions were not found in control rats receiving peanut oil and killed at 13 or 25 weeks. At 13 weeks the forestomachs from rats receiving methyl bromide were contracted and adherent to the liver and spleen. Inflammation, acanthosis, fibrosis, and a high incidence of pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia were found microscopically in treated animals. At 25 weeks, 100% of the rats receiving methyl bromide continuously had hyperplastic lesions of the forestomach which were more severe than those at 13 weeks. Evidence of malignancy was seen in one rat and the lesion was considered a very early carcinoma. In the stop treatment group that received methyl bromide for 13 weeks, there was regression of the stomach lesions, but at the 12-week final sacrifice, adhesions, fibrosis, and mild acanthosis remained. This study illustrates the need for regression experiments for complex forestomach lesions in rodents, especially when an irritating chemical is given by gavage.

Administration, Oral↗

Bone marrow alterations induced in mice with inhalation of chrysotile asbestos.

The effect of chrysotile asbestos exposure on bone marrow and immune parameters was examined in mice at 2, 12, and 26 weeks following a 3-day inhalation exposure. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the fibers were deposited primarily at alveolar duct bifurcations within the centriacinar region of the lung. Histological pulmonary changes were minimal, but by 26 weeks early asbestosis characterized by clusters of macrophages and minimal fibrosis were present in the centriacinar region of the lung. Lymphoproliferative responses, antibody levels, and number of plaque forming cells were not significantly altered in exposed mice. Pulmonary macrophages, but not peritoneal macrophages, showed evidence of activation in the chrysotile-exposed mice at 26 weeks following exposure. The most striking change was the depression of the number of bone marrow pluripotent stem cells (CFU-S) and marrow granulocyte macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) which were lower at all three postexposure examinations. It is felt that the depression of bone marrow progenitors in asbestos-exposed mice may have relevance to the leukopenia reported in workers with occupational history of asbestos exposure.

Animals↗

Myelotoxicity and macrophage alteration in mice exposed to ochratoxin A.

Six- to seven-week-old female B6C3F1 mice were administered a total of 0, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg of ochratoxin A (OCT A) ip on alternate days over an 8-day period. Twenty-four hours following the final dose, histopathology, bone marrow, and macrophage parameters were assayed. There was a dramatic dose related decrease in thymic mass with the mean thymus weight of the high dose animals being only 33% of controls. Histologic evidence of nephrotoxicity was minimal and restricted to the inner cortex. Myelotoxicity was present as evidenced by bone marrow hypocellularity, decreased marrow pluripotent stem cells (CFU-S), granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GMs), and decreased 59Fe uptake in marrows and spleens of exposed mice. Peritoneal macrophages from sc as well as ip injected mice demonstrated increased phagocytic capacities and increased capacity to inhibit tumor cell growth. These alterations in bone marrow cells and macrophages suggest myelotoxicity is an additional potential hazard of OCT A exposure.

Animals↗

Microbial keratitis--a late complication of penetrating keratoplasty.

A retrospective review of 323 penetrating keratoplasties performed in Taiwan between January 1993 and December 1997 revealed that late microbial keratitis developed in 39 eyes of 36 patients (12.1%). All patients were operated on by the same surgeon, and all were followed for at least 1 year. The mean interval between the corneal transplantation and the onset of graft infection was 8.6 +/- 8.8 months (range 3 weeks-47 months). Predisposing risk factors for keratitis included chronic blepharitis with poor lid hygiene (43.6%), suture-related problems (38.5%), dry eyes (28.2%), epithelial defects (25.6%), and use of contact lenses (5.1%). Infectious keratitis was diagnosed within 6 months after keratoplasty in 59% of cases. Positive cultures were obtained in 100% of the ulcers; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogens. In the final visual outcome assessment, 30.8% of cases had clear grafts, 20.5% had graft failures, and 10.3% had corneal perforations.

Adult↗

Alterations in hematopoietic responses in B6C3F1 mice caused by drinking a mixture of 25 groundwater contaminants.

Myelotoxicity parameters were monitored in female B6C3F1 mice exposed to 0, 1, 5, and 10% of a chemical mixture stock in drinking water for 2.5 to 31.5 weeks. The mixture consisted of 25 groundwater contaminants frequently found near toxic waste dumps, as determined by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) surveys. Water consumption, body and organ weights, and hematological and histopathological examinations were conducted. No animals developed overt signs of toxicity after 2.5 weeks of treatment. No significant effect on bone marrow cellularity was observed after 2.5, 15.5, or 31.5 weeks of exposure; however, mice exposed to 5% or higher concentrations of the chemical mixture stock solution for 15.5 weeks showed significant suppression of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) and erythroid precursors (CFU-E) with no changes in body weight, histopathological or hematological parameters. Decreases occurred in erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume of mice exposed to a 10% solution for 15.5 weeks and to 5 and 10% solutions following 31.5 weeks of treatment. In addition, dose-related decreases were found in body, liver, and thymus weights in the 5 and 10% solutions exposure groups after 31.5 weeks. These results suggest that bone marrow may be a sensitive indicator for long-term, low-level exposure of multiple chemicals in mice. Furthermore, long-term exposure to highly contaminated groundwater may present a subtle risk to the hematopoietic system.

Animals↗