The oxidative damage in lung of mice caused by lanthanoide.

This study was performed with the objective of assessing the antioxidant response of the lung of mice to different rare earths. LaCl(3), CeCl(3), and NdCl(3) at a higher dose of 20 mg/kg body weight were injected into the nasal cavity of ICR mice for consecutive 14 days, respectively. The increase of pulmonary lipids peroxide produced by Ln suggested an oxidative attack that was activated by a reduction of antioxidative defense mechanisms as measured by analyzing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity, as well as antioxidant levels such as glutathione and ascorbic acid, which were greatest in Ce(3+) treatment, medium in Nd(3+), and least in La(3+). It implied that the antioxidative responses of lung may be involved in 4f shell and alternable valence properties of Ln-induced lung toxicity.