Acute exposure to diphenyl ditelluride causes oxidative damage in rat lungs

The present study evaluated the effect of acute exposure to diphenyl ditelluride [(PhTe)2] on oxidative status in lungs of rats. Rats were exposed to a single subcutaneous application of (PhTe)2 at the doses of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 μmol/kg or vehicle. After 72 h of exposure to (PhTe)2, biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were carried out in lungs of rats. The lungs of rats exposed to (PhTe)2 showed an increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation, reactive species and non-protein thiol. Alterations in superoxide dismutase activity were observed at all tested doses. (PhTe)2 caused an increase in catalase activity and a reduction in ascorbic acid levels at the dose of 0.9 μmol/kg. The oxidative damage was more pronounced in animals treated with the highest dose of (PhTe)2. Thus, this study demonstrated that acute exposure to (PhTe)2 induced oxidative damage and an adaptive response of antioxidants in pulmonary tissue of rats.