Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 27-32,38.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2025.01.005

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Effect of aerosol inhalation of a blister agent 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide on pulmonary function in mice

SHI Minjie1,2, LI Jiawei2, GUO Xiaojie1,2, WANG Changyan1,2, FAN Zhenpeng2, LIU Jiangzheng2, LI Wenli2, KONG Deqin2, XIN Bao1   

  1. 1. School of Public Health, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046;
    2. Department of Military Toxicology and Chemical Defense Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Key Laboratory of Environmental Hazard Assessment and Prevention of Special Operations of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Free Radical Biology and Medicine of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2024-06-17 Revised:2024-10-17 Published:2025-01-25

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aims were to study effect of an inhalation blister agent,2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES),on the pulmonary function of mice by the whole body plethysmography (WBP) technology,and to provide an etiological evaluation of lung injury caused by the agent. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control and CEES exposure groups. The exposure group was given an aerosolized 8% CEES solution,while the control group was expose to an equal dose of solvent ethanol. The daily activity of the mice was monitored,and after 72 hours,the body weights were recorded. WBP was applied to non-invasively detect differences in various lung function characteristics,general indicators,tidal volume,conductivity indicators,airway resistance indicators,ventilation indicators,and minute ventilation. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in lung tissue. RESULTS: Compared with control mice,the CEES-exposed group showed reduced activity and a significant decrease in body weight;rate of achieving peak expiratory flow,peak-inspiratory-flow,frequency,and minute volume decreased (P<0.01);inspiration time,expiration-time,end-inspiratory-pause,time of pause at end of expiration,pause enhanced,and pause increased (P<0.01);compressed lung alveolar structures,thickened lung septa,infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue,and entrance of red blood cells into the alveoli. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of blister agents led to increased inspiratory and expiratory bidirectional resistance,prolonged ventilation intervals,decreased respiratory rate,and pulmonary hypoventilation. These may be characteristics of blister agent-induced lung injury.

Key words: blister agents, whole body plethsmography, pulmonary function, acute lung injury, CEES

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