Paraquat의 세포독성을 알아보기 위하여 NIH 3T3 섬유모세포에 적용한 후 MTT와 NR 분석법을 이용하여 세포독성을 측정하고, paraquat의 세포독성에 대한 3-MC의 독성경감효과를 알아보기 위하여 Spraque Dawley계 수컷 랫드에 paraquat 단독 및 paraquat와 3-MC 병용투여 후 랫드의 폐를 경시적으로 채취하여 관찰하였다. Paraquat의 NIH 3T3 섬유모세포에 대한 MTT_50은 1668.97 μM, NR_50은 1030.25 μM로 산출되어 Borenfreund와 Puemer(1984)의 독성판정기준에 의하면 저독성 물질이었다. Paraquat 단독 투여 군은 H&E 염색에서 3시간째부터 폐 모세혈관 내에 적혈구 수가 증가하기 시작하여 24시간째에는 충혈상태에 이르렀으며, 폐포사이 중격에서는 큰폐포상피수가 증가하였다. 또한 폐 조직을 둘러싸고 있는 결합조직 내에는 임파구, 대식세포 및 다형핵 백혈구 등이 다수 관찰되었고, 48시간째부터 폐포사이 중격과 폐포내에 폐포큰포식세포가 증가하기 시작하여 96시간째에는 다수의 폐포큰포식세포가 관찰되었다. Verhoeff의 iron hemtoxylin 염색에서도 paraquat 단독 투여 후 24시간째에 조직변화가 가장 심하였고, 교원섬유량의 급격한 증가, 폐포의 넓이와 폐포 구멍(alveolar pore) 간격의 확장 등이 관찰되었다. 한편, paraquat와 3-MC 병용투여군은 paraquat 단독 투여 군에 비하여 조직변화가 약하게 관찰되었는데, 병용투여 후 3시간째에는 단독투여 3시간째의 소견과 유사하였으나 점차 회복되어 폐 모세혈관 내에 적혈구 수가 증가하여24시간째에는 대조군의 구조와 거의 유사하였다. 또한 폐 조직을 둘러싸고 있는 결합조직과 임파소절에서도 paraquat 단독 투여 군에서 보였던 변화가 거의 관찰되지 않았다. Verhoeff의 iron hematoxylin 염색에서도 병용투여 후 24시간째에는 교원섬유량이 단독 투여 군에 비하여 크게 감소하였고 폐포와 폐포 구멍의 넓이도 대조군과 유사하였다 (2002년 5월 26일 접수, 2002년 6월 24일 수리).

This study was carried out to investigate cytotoxicity of paraquat on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, toxicity of paraquat and compensatory effects of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) on the rat lung. In order to conduct MTT [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl -2H-tetrazolium-bromide] and NR (Neutral red) assay, the 5.0×10 exp (4) cell/ml of NIH 3T3 fibroblast in each well of 24 multi-dish were cultured. After 24 hours, the cells were treated with solution of paraquat (1, 25, 50 and 100 μM respectively). After the NIH 3T3 fibroblast of all groups were cultured in same condition for 48 hours. MTT and NR assay were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles. MTT_50 and NR_50 of paraquat were 1668.97 μM and 1030.85 μM, respectively. These IC_50 of Paraquat were decided as a low cytotoxicity by Borenfreund and Puemer (1984). In order to observe the toxicity and compensatory effects of paraquat on the rat lung, Spraque Dawley male rats were used as experimental animals and were divided into paraquat only treated group and simultaneous application group of paraquat and 3-MC, at 30 min and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hrs interval after each treatment. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation and their or the lungs were immediately removed, immersed in fixatives, and were processed with routine method for light microscopic study. Paraffin sections were stained with H&E and iron hematoxylin of Verhoeff. Under the light microscopy, erythrocytes were full in alveolar capillaries at 3 hrs and congested at 24 hrs after paraquat administration. The great alveolar cells (Type Ⅱ cell) were increased and mitosis of great alveolar were observed in interalveolar septa. Many lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were observed in connective tissue surrounding lung tissue and germinal center in lymph follicles of terminal bronchiole. Alveolar macrophages were increased in interalveolar septa and alveoli at 48 hrs. And observed many alveolar macrophages at 96 hrs. In iron hematoxylin stain of Verhoeff, Collagen fiber were increased in respiratory bronchiole, interalveolar septa and alveoli and breath of alveoli, and alveolar pore were broaden. But, in paraquat plus 3-MC treated group, morphological changes were mild in lung tissue. These results indicate that 3-MC has a compensatory effects against toxicity of paraquat by conjugation with oxygen.