Objective To study changes in cardiovascular system of spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to fine particulate matters (PM2.5).
Methods Twenty-four SPF male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including 1 saline control group and 3 PM2.5 exposure groups (1.6, 8.0, and 40.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively). Each exposure group received intratracheal instillation once per day for 3 consecutive days. At the 24 h after the last administration, blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiogram were recorded, and blood samples were collected to analyze the concentration of plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1), P-selection, and D-dimmer.
Results The blood pressure and the heart rate increased significantly and the heart rate variability decreased significantly in the PM2.5-treated rats compared with the control group (P<0.05). Elevated plasma ET-1 levels were observed in the 3 PM2.5 exposure groups (P<0.05). The P-selection and the D-dimmer increased significantly in the 8.0 and 40.0 mg/kg PM2.5 exposure groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion Exposure to PM2.5 induce changes in autonomic nervous function and blood coagulation & fibrinolysis in rats.
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