Pulmonary Toxicity Induced by N-Hexane in Wistar Male Rats After Oral Subchronic Exposure

Studies of pulmonary toxicity induced by oral exposure to n-hexane are very few, in contrast to those studying the exposure by inhalation. This research tackles the oral toxic effect of n-hexane solvent on the lungs after subchronic exposure of Wistar male rats at 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg, respectively, each day for 8 weeks. The pneumotoxicity observed in this study was marked by an immune toxicity in the form of a significant increase in the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and eosinophils, as well as a significant increase in relative and absolute lung weight in both groups treated at the doses of 600 and 1200 mg/kg. n-Hexane also resulted in a significant increase in serum total proteins and acid phosphatase in the 3 doses tested daily for 8 weeks. In addition, we found a significant increase in total protein and a decrease in glutathione at 600 and 1200 mg/kg, in the pulmonary homogenate. Furthermore, the rate of lipid peroxidation increased in the 3 doses tested. Histological findings revealed a pneumonia characterized by bronchopneumonia, fibronecrotic lesions, congestion, hemorrhage, type II pneumocyte hyperplasia, alveolar lesions, bronchial epithelium degradation, and inflammation.