Molecular and histological responses in rat skin exposed to m-xylene

✍ Scribed by Palur G. Gunasekar; James V. Rogers; Mahendra B. Kabbur; Carol M. Garrett; William W. Brinkley; James N. McDougal

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 93 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1095-6670
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.10065

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Solvents, surfactants, cutting fluids, hydrocarbons, and oils cause skin irritation by incompletely understood mechanisms. This study examined histological and molecular changes in rodent skin caused by brief topical exposures to m‐xylene. At 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after 1‐h exposure, skin samples were removed and analyzed for histopathological changes and interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein levels. Histopathological changes (epidermal–dermal separation and granulocyte infiltration) and increases in IL‐1α and iNOS protein expression occurred during our observation period. IL‐1α levels increased by 80% immediately after exposure and iNOS levels increased about 60% 4 hours after exposure. Our study demonstrates that dermal exposure to m‐xylene promotes IL‐1α and iNOS production in skin and these proteins may serve as early indicators of skin irritation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:92–94, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10065