초록
Objectives: This study was performed to produce data on the pulmonary toxicity of neodymium oxide($Nd_2O_3$) by intratracheal instillation. Methods: Two groups of rats were exposed to neodymium oxide by intratracheal instillation with doses of 0.5 mg and 2.0 mg, respectively. At two days, four weeks and 12 weeks after exposure, body weight change, organ weight change and histopathological change were observed. At 12 weeks after exposure, lung function change was measured. Results: The body weight of rats in the high concentration group decreased after 12 weeks by 4-5% compared with the control group. At four weeks and 12 weeks after the administration of neodymium oxide, the absolute weight of the lungs of the high concentration group were significantly increased when compared with the control group(p<0.05). At 12 weeks after the injection of neodymium oxide, breath frequency and respiratory minute volume were increased, but inhalation time and expiratory time were decreased. Bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia, alveolar type II cell hypertrophy/hyperplasia and foreign body granulomatous inflammation were observed in the high exposure group. Conclusions: Body weight decrease, lung absolute weight and breath frequency increase, and pathological lung change were all observed. We found that pulmonary toxicity of neodymium oxide nanoparticles by intratracheal instillation could be confirmed.
