Effects of GaAs and Ga₂O₃ on magnetometric behavior of iron oxide particles in rabbit lungs

Abstract

Abstract Intratracheal instillation of a GaAs suspension has been histopathologically shown to induce a diffuse pulmonary response. In the present study, magnetometry was used to evaluate the effects of intratracheally instilled GaAs and Ga 2 O 3 on the behavior of externally magnetized iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) particles instilled in rabbit lung. Magnetometric evaluation of the effects of GaAs in rabbits dosed with 30 mg or 300 mg per animal showed a significantly decreased relaxation of iron oxide particles at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days following instillation compared with the controls. On the other hand, in the rabbits exposed to Ga 2 O 3 , significantly reduced decay constants were observed only on the first and third days following instillation. Relaxation indicates a rapid decrease of remanent magnetic field following magnetization of the lungs due to random rotation of phagocytosed iron oxide particles in macrophages. Clearance of the iron oxide particles was measured by serial determinations of the remanent magnetic field at the end of magnetization estimated from relaxation curves. Clearance was significantly impaired at 14, 21 and 28 days after instillation in rabbits exposed to both doses of GaAs. Slightly delayed clearance was also observed in rabbits exposed to Ga 2 O 3 . Histological examination of lungs instilled with GaAs indicated active phagocytosis of GaAs and iron oxide particles by pulmonary macrophages, as well as pneumonocytes hyperplasia with marked thickening of the alveolar walls. Minimal histological changes with retention of iron oxide particles were found in the lungs exposed to Ga 2 O 3 .