Bone Abstracts

Objectives: This experimental study is aimed at investigating of macroelemental contents of skeletal bones in rats after 2-month inhalation of toluene vapors (Tol) and administration of thiotriazoline (Th) and Echinaceae tinctura (ET) as medication.

Methods: The experiment involved 420 male rats (young, mature and old) each separated into: intact animals, animals that received daily Tol inhalations as a single 5-h exposure to 10 MPC for 60 days and the groups 3 and 4 received inhalations of Tol and intraperitoneal Th in dosage 117.4 mg/kg and per os ET in dosage of 0.1 mg of active component per 100 g of body weight. Upon expiration of observation terms tibia, hipbone and third lumbar vertebra were prepared for chemical analysis.

Results: Exposure to Tol result in hyperhydratation, demineralization and macroelements composition destabilization in tibia, hipbone and third lumbar vertebra. Upon cessation of Tol exposure, shares of mineral content, Ca and Ca/P ratio were lower than those of the control group by 6.13–7.78, 11.77–12.86 and 16.96–18.40%, in adult animals – by 5.43–6.65, 9.75–10.97 and 13.46–16.20% and in old – by 5.62–6.65, 8.45–8.94 and 11.86–12.55% (P<0.05 in all cases). In readaptation period, macroelement levels of tibia, hipbone and vertebra in young animals restored after the 15th day, in adult rats alterations persisted up to the 30th day and gradually reduced yet by the 60th day alterations were still observed. In old animals alteration persisted throughout of the whole observation period.

After administration of Th during Tol inhalations in comparison with non-medicated animals macroelement contents of tibia, hipbone and third lumbar vertebra in young animals restored after the 15th day of observation, in adult animals restoration signs were registered in the period from the 15th to the 60th days of observation and in old animals – from the 7th to the 60th days of observation. After administration of ET changes of macroelement contents of tibia, hipbone and vertebra in young animals as compared to the controls restored after the 15th day of observation, in adult and senile animals changes were registered by the 30th and the 60th days of observation.

Conclusions: Sixty-day inhalation of Tol results in macroelements composition destabilization of bones. Application of Th or ET reduces negative effects of Tol. We proved Th to be more effective than ET.