HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Spleen and bone marrow megakaryocytes as targets for inhaled vanadium

Teresa I. Fortoul1, Gabriela Piñón-Zarate1, Maria Eugenia Diaz-Bech1 Adriana González-Villalva1, Patricia Mussali-Galante1, Vianey Rodriguez-Lara1, Laura Colin-Barenque2, Michelle Martinez-Pedraza1 and Luis F. Montaño3

1Cellular and Tissular Biology Department, School of Medicine, National University of Mexico (UNAM), México City, México, 2FES Iztacala, UNAM. Edo. de Mexico and 3Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico

Offprint requests to: Teresa I. Fortoul MD, Ph.D, Cellular and Tissular Biology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CP 04510 Mexico City, Mexico. e-mail: fortoul@servidor.unam.mx


Summary. An increased incidence in ischemic and thromboembolic events in the population of cities with rising air suspended particle pollution has suggested the interaction of some of the components of these particles in the coagulation system. A previous report from our laboratory identified thrombocytosis as a consequence of the subacute and chronic inhalation of vanadium. With this preceding information we decided to evaluate the effects of this element in the spleen and bone marrow in a mouse experimental model. CD-1 male mice inhaled V2O5 0.02 M for one hour twice a week for twelve weeks. The spleen and bone marrow were processed for light microscopy. The increase in quantity and size of megakaryocytes (MKs) in the exposed group in both organs was striking. Also, modifications in the cytoplasm, granule content and nuclear ultrastructure were evident. Our results indicate the influence of vanadium on megakaryopoyesis, an effect which could be the onset of the thrombocytosis previously reported by our group. The modifications in MKs described here suggest that inhaled vanadium could induce megakaryocytic proliferation, which may result in increased production of platelets and increased risk for thromboembolic events. Histol Histopathol 23, 1321-1326 (2008)

Key words: Megakaryocytosis, Vanadium, Transition metals, Inhalation exposure

DOI: 10.14670/HH-23.1321