Changes in plasma antiproteases in paraquat poisoned rats using micro two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis

Rats were subjected to subacute paraquat (PQ) exposure (7 mg/kg sc daily for 6-9 administrations). They were divided into a group that died from subacute toxicity, a group that recovered from the subacute toxicity and progressed to pulmonary fibrosis, and a group that showed no effects from the PQ. The rats with subacute fatal toxicity had a remarkable increase in a2M-1. Those which progressed to pulmonary fibrosis had remarkable decreases in a2M-2, a2M-3, and a2M-4 and a1AT. The rats that showed no effects from the PQ had relative increases in all molecular species of a2M. Increases in major a2M molecular species, a2M-1 and a2M-4, and a minor molecular species, a2M-3, were characteristically observed.