Evaluation of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizing Region?Associated Protein Synthesis in Femoral Muscle Cells of Rats Exposed to 3000 ppm Carbon Monoxide Gas

Objective: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, and nonirritant gas and it causes tissues hypoxia due to decreasing oxygen carrying capacity. Nucleolar-organizing regions (NORs) are genetic loci on chromosomes and they can be stained with silver when they are active. In this study, we aimed to investigate any possible effects 3000 ppm CO exposure on the NOR protein synthesis in femoral muscle cells of rats. Method: The animals were divided into 2 groups as control (C) and 3000 ppm CO exposed group. One week after exposure to CO, the animals were anesthetized and femoral muscle tissues were obtained. Then mean argyrophilic NOR (AgNOR) number and total AgNOR area/nuclear area (TAA/NA) were detected in femoral muscle cells for each rat. Results: There were significant differences between control group and 3000 ppm CO exposed group for mean AgNOR number (Z=-6.407 and p=0.000) and TAA/NA ratio (Z=-7.718 and p=0.000). Conclusion: It was detected that there were a possible effects of CO exposure on the AgNOR proteins amounts in femoral muscle cells of rats.