Effect of Sulfur Dioxide Inhalation on the Activities of Glutathione Peroxidase in Nine Organs of Mice

In order to study oxidation damage of SO 2 and mechanism of its toxicological role in mammals. After exposure to SO 2 at different concentrations,the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) in nine organs (liver,lung,kidney,heart,spleen,brain,stomach,small intestine and testicle) from mice were investigated. For male mice,the increases of GSH Px activities were caused by SO 2 at low concentration (22±2 mg/m 3) in lungs (significant);while the decrease of GSH Px activities were caused by low SO 2 exposure in heart (significant) and in other organs (not significant). For female mice,SO 2 at 22±2 mg/m 3 caused increase of GSH Px activities in all organs tested,but only the increase of GSH Px activities in lungs and brains were statistically significant. SO 2 at higher concentration (64±3 mg/m 3) caused decrease of GSH Px activities in all organs tested in mice of both sexes,and the decrease of GSH Px activities in liver,lung,kidney,heart,brain,stomach,intestine and testicle in male mice were statistically significant. [Conclusion] SO 2 might cause decrease of GSH Px activities in various organs of mice in a dose dependent manner . The decrease in activities of the antioxidant enzyme might predispose the organism to increase free radical damage,and to reduce protection against lipid peroxidation.