Response of lung enzyme activities in rabbits following short-term exposure to n-hexane: correlation between morphological and biochemical changes.

The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase was studied in lung homogenate from New Zealand rabbits exposed to 3000 p.p.m. of n-hexane 8 h per day for 8 days of filtered air. In hydrocarbon-treated animals all enzymes examined, except alkaline phosphatase, were markedly increased. The biochemical changes correlated well with the morphological changes and the results of cytological evaluation of bronchopulmonary lavage. It is suggested that high values in lung lysosomal enzymes from treated rabbits reflect the acute inflammation whilst the increase in lung glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may depend upon reparative process subsequent to n-hexane-induced lung damage.