Serum and urine biochemical diversity among wild-caught and colony-born Aotus nancymae.

Serum and urine analytes were compared between adult wild-caught and adult colony-born owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae), to determine if normative clinical pathology data were similar. Significant differences (P < or = 0.05) were noted in serum protein, glucose, sodium, urine calcium, calcium clearance, and fractional clearance of calcium between the two groups. The results suggest that reference data for feral owl monkeys is not completely applicable to colony-born animals, however, the differences are too small to be of clinical significance.

Comparison of blood and urine analytes between two karyotypes of owl monkey, Aotus nancymae and Aotus vociferans.

Serum and urine analytes were compared between two karyotypes of owl monkey, Aotus nancymae and A. vociferans, to determine if normative clinical pathology data obtained from one karyotype were applicable to the other. Statistically significant differences (P < or = 0.05) were noted in serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum sodium, serum potassium, serum urea nitrogen, urine calcium, calcium clearance, and fractional clearance of calcium between the two karyotypes. The results suggest that A. vociferans regulate calcium-phosphorus and electrolyte homeostasis in a manner different from that of A. nancymae.

Effects of subchronic inhalation exposure of mice to a high-boiling coal liquid.

Mice (CD-1) were exposed to aerosol concentrations of 0.0, 0.03, 0.14, or 0.69 mg/liter of heavy distillate (HD), a high-boiling coal liquid from the solvent-refined coal (SRC)-II process. Exposures were for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks. Particle sizes ranged between 1.6 and 1.8 micron, mass median aerodynamic diameter, with a geometric standard deviation range of 1.9-2.5. Growth for high-dose males was significantly less than that of the control group. Compared to controls, weights of liver were significantly higher and those of ovaries and thymus significantly lower; these changes were significant on both absolute and relative weight bases. The number of red blood cells, volume of packed red cells, and hemoglobin concentration for animals from the high-dose group were significantly lower than those of controls. Microscopic examination of organ sections showed focal hepatic necrosis and nonspecific hepatopathy. Additionally, olfactory epithelial degeneration occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Results from this study indicated that exposure to HD caused adverse effects at the high dose and that these changes were either less severe or absent in middle-dose group mice. Comparison of these results with those for rats indicated that with rats the biological effects were more severe and present at lower doses than was observed for mice.

Deposition and early disposition of inhaled 233UO2(NO3)2 and 232UO2(NO3)2 in the rat.

Little information exists on the metabolism and potential health effects of 233U and 232U, high-specific-activity U isotopes associated with Th breeder systems. This paper describes the distribution and retention of the two isotopes following inhalation of uranyl nitrate, a simulated process solution. The lungs of rats exposed to 233UO2(NO3)2 and 232UO2(NO3)2 aerosols contained from 7 to 23% of the total amount of U retained in the rat after a 30-min inhalation exposure. Uranium was translocated rapidly from the lung and was retained mainly in skeleton, kidney and liver. Amounts equivalent to from one-quarter to one-half the initial lung burden (ILB) of U were excreted in urine the first day after inhalation. Radiation dose estimates based on 233U and 232U retention kinetics indicate that lung and skeleton would be the target organs for delayed radiation effects.

Influence of iron on plutonium absorption by the adult and neonatal rat.

To determine how iron affects plutonium absorption, adult rats were gavaged with 238Pu nitrate (pH 2) after they had been fed an iron-deficient diet or treated with iron supplements. Neonatal rats born to dams on an iron-deficient diet were also gavaged with 238Pu. An iron-deficient diet resulted in enhanced 238Pu absorption both in the adults and in neonates born to iron-deficient dams. Ferric iron increased 238Pu absorption 12-fold in adult rats; injected iron-dextran reduced that increase; gavaged ferrous iron reduced 238Pu absorption to one-third of the control value. Rat neonates absorbed 30 to 40 times as much 238Pu as adults; absorption was lowered in groups that received iron supplements: Iron-dextran caused a 50% reduction; ferric iron, 95%; and ferrous iron, greater than 95%. The results demonstrate an effect of the oxidation state of iron on plutonium absorption in adult rats different from that observed in suckling rats. The results suggest that the high rate of 238Pu absorption by neonatal animals is due not only to the permeability of their intestines but also to their high demand for iron.

Influence of oxidizing or reducing agents on gastrointestinal absorption of U, Pu, Am, Cm and Pm by rats.

Absorption of 233U, 238Pu, 241Am, and 244Cm from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was measured in rats, fed ad libitum or fasted, that were gavaged with solutions containing ferric iron, ferrous iron, iron powder, quinhydrone or ascorbic acid. Absorption and retention of all of these actinides was increased substantially by fasting and by the addition of mild oxidizing agents, ferric iron and quinhydrone. In contrast, absorption and retention were decreased to below the fasted level by all the reducing agents except ascorbic acid, which caused diarrhea and an increase in absorption. Absorption of the lanthanide element 147Pm from the intestine of fasted rats was also increased by ferric iron. Some of these actinide elements are polyvalent and are, in some cases, known to be absorbed from the GI tract more readily in their higher oxidation states. This suggested an oxidation-reduction mechanism for the effect of fasting and the action of the chemical agents used. However, the improbability that either 241Am(III) 244Cm(III) or 147Pm is converted to a different oxidation state under these conditions makes that mechanism unlikely. Other explanations are suggested.

Effects of inhalation exposure to a high-boiling (288 to 454 degrees C) coal liquid.

Coal liquids have been evaluated in a variety of short-term toxicological assays; however, few studies have been conducted to determine the systemic effects after inhalation exposure to these materials. To extend the data base on potential health effects from coal liquefaction materials, we performed a study with solvent refined coal (SRC)-II heavy distillate (HD). Fischer-344 rats were exposed for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 5 or 13 weeks to an aerosol of HD (boiling range, 288 to 454 degrees C) at concentrations of 0.69, 0.14, 0.03, or 0.0 mg/liter of air for the high, middle, low, and control groups, respectively. Survival through 13 weeks of exposure was greater than 90% for all groups; body weights for exposed animals were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Significant increases in liver weights and decreases in thymus and ovary weights were observed for treated animals compared with controls. There were also significant treatment-related decreases in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, volume of packed red blood cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and total white blood cells. After 5 weeks of exposure serum cholesterol concentrations increased in a dose-dependent manner for both sexes and serum triglyceride amounts decreased for males but not for females. After 13 weeks of exposure, high-dose animals had significant increases in cholesterol (males only), triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT; males) and significant decreases in albumin, SGPT (females), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Examination of bone-marrow preparations from exposed animals demonstrated consistent decreases in the degree of cellularity, suggesting that this organ is a target for HD. Microscopic evaluation of organ sections indicated exposure-related changes for nasal mucosa, pulmonary macrophages, thymus, liver, kidney, bone marrow, ovaries, and cecum. Results from this study indicated dose-dependent increases in the severity of the lesions observed, with few effects in the low-exposure group that were attributable to the exposure.