Effects of 50 ppm NO2 gas exposure on physiological functions of rats

When rats were exposed to 50 ppm NO2 gas for 36 h, remarkable changes in some biochemical levels compared with those of control rats were observed. Namely, levels of total cholesterol, ester cholesterol, total lipids, triglycerides, nitrogen of urea, uric acid, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cytochrome P-450 of the exposed rats were decidedly different from those of the control rats. Thus, it was suggested that functions of liver are acutely injured upon exposure to 50 ppm NO2 gas, although extensive pulmonary injury resulting from such an exposure may also be responsible for some of the abnormal serum values.