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Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 34, No. 7, 949-957 (2006)
DOI: 10.1080/01926230601080502
© 2006 Society of Toxicologic Pathology

Articles

Translocation Pathway of the Intratracheally Instilled Ultrafine Particles from the Lung into the Blood Circulation in the Mouse

Akinori Shimada, Natsuko Kawamura, Mina Okajima, Theerayuth Kaewamatawong, Hiromi Inoue and Takehito Morita

Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan

Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Akinori Shimada, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Minami 4-101, Koyama, Tottori-shi, Tottori 680-8553, Japan; e-mail:aki{at}muses.tottori-u.ac.jp

Recently, it has been demonstrated that ultrafine particles (UFPs) are able to translocate from the lung into the systemic circulation. Precise mechanisms of the anatomical translocation (crossing the air–blood barrier) of inhaled UFPs at the alveolar wall are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the translocation pathway of the intratracheally instilled ultrafine carbon black (UFCB) from the lung into the blood circulation in mouse. Electron microscopy demonstrated accumulation of intratracheally instilled UFCB in the large-sized gaps developing between the cytoplasmic processes of the alveolar epithelial cells, possibly as a result of shrinkage of cytoplasm, by receiving stimulus/signals generated and released following UFCB attachment on the alveolar epithelial cells. Occasional penetration of the accumulated UFCB into the alveolar basement membrane, exposing to the air space, was observed at the gap. These results suggest that inhaled UFPs may, in part, pass the air-blood barrier through the large-sized gap formed between the alveolar epithelial cells.

Key Words: Air-blood barrier • carbon • electron microscopy • mouse • translocation • ultrafine particles

Abbreviations: PBS, phosphate-buffered saline • UFPs, ultrafine particles • UFCB, ultrafine carbon black


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