Biomaterial Database

Nucleic acid metabolism in the rat following short-term and prolonged ingestion of chrysotile asbestos or cigarette-smoke condensate. 1978

R Jacobs, and M Weinzweig, and K S Dodgson, and R J Richards

Rats which have ingested a natural diet containing chrysotile asbestos (50 mg/day) both in the short (one week) and long term (5-15 months) show a statistically significant increase in the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into DNA in the small intestine mucosa, colon and rectum, stomach and spleen and a significant decrease in the incorporation of this radiolabel into liver DNA. However, short-term ingestion of similar quantities of chrysotile produced no significant change in the incorporation of [3H]-uridine into RNA in any tissues, although prolonged ingestion of the mineral induced alterations in RNA metabolism in the lung and liver. By contrast, animals ingesting a natural diet containing cigarette-smoke condensate show a significantly high incorporation of [3H]-uridine into RNA in the mucosa, submucosa, spleen and heart following short-term exposure. Long-term ingestion of this diet produces similar changes in the submucosa, spleen and lung. The apparent specificity and the mechanism whereby ingested chrysotile interferes with DNA metabolism in some body tissues is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D008297	Male		Males
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D010947	Plants, Toxic	Plants or plant parts which are harmful to man or other animals.	Plants, Poisonous,Plant, Poisonous,Plant, Toxic,Poisonous Plant,Poisonous Plants,Toxic Plant,Toxic Plants
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001194	Asbestos	Asbestos. Fibrous incombustible mineral composed of magnesium and calcium silicates with or without other elements. It is relatively inert chemically and used in thermal insulation and fireproofing. Inhalation of dust causes asbestosis and later lung and gastrointestinal neoplasms.
D012313	RNA	A polynucleotide consisting essentially of chains with a repeating backbone of phosphate and ribose units to which nitrogenous bases are attached. RNA is unique among biological macromolecules in that it can encode genetic information, serve as an abundant structural component of cells, and also possesses catalytic activity. (Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	RNA, Non-Polyadenylated,Ribonucleic Acid,Gene Products, RNA,Non-Polyadenylated RNA,Acid, Ribonucleic,Non Polyadenylated RNA,RNA Gene Products,RNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012906	Smoke	Visible gaseous suspension of carbon and other particulate matter emitted from burning substances.
D013154	Spleen	An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.