Protein Content of Lung Lavage Fluid of Guinea Pigs Exposed to 0.4 ppm Nitrogen Dioxide

Abstract

Lung lavage and disc-gel electrophoresis of the lavage fluid were carried out in a study of 18 guinea pigs, half of which were exposed continuously over a one-week period to 0.4 ppm nitrogen dioxide. Of the nine animal pairs, eight were characterized by higher protein levels for the exposed animals (P < .001). The values for eight of nine control animals were .1097 (arbitrary units) or less, whereas those for eight of nine exposed animals had levels .1164 or higher, with a maximum of .1698. The methodologies represent a relatively simple means of detecting a physiologically important alteration and have the potential of greater sensitivity to and specificity of protein content through new advances in electrophoretic techniques.