Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is an ubiquitous antioxidant enzyme, but the exact expression pattern in mammalian tissues is still unknown. The expression and cellular localization of PHGPx mRNA were examined in male mice using real time-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization techniques. The rank order of PHGPx mRNA expression across tissues exhibiting substantial levels of expression was:testes >> heart > cerebrum > or = ileum > stomach = liver = jejunum > or = epididymis. In testes, PHGPx mRNA was highly expressed in spermiogenic cells and Leydig cells. The signal was also expressed in the molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, and white matter of cerebellum, the pituicytes of neurohypophysis, the parafollicular cells and follicular basement membrane of thyroid, the exocrine portion of pancreas, the tubular epithelium of kidney, the smooth muscle cells of arteries, and the red pulp of spleen. In the gastrointestinal tract, PHGPx mRNA expression was mainly observed in the keratinized surface epithelium of forestomach, the submucosal glands and serosa layers, and further the Paneth cells of intestines. PHGPx mRNA appeared to be ubiquitously expressed in the parenchyma of heart, liver, and lung. These results indicate that PHGPx exhibits a cell- and tissue-specific expression pattern in mice.

1-Methylnaphthalene is generally utilized in solvents, as an intermediate in organic synthesis, a dye carrier, in resins, and others. There are some toxicological studies of 1-methylnaphthalene; however, inhalation toxicity studies are rare. Each of 10 male and female F344 rats was exposed to vapors of 1-methylnaphthalene for 13 weeks (6 h a day, 5 days per week) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 4, and 30 ppm in a whole-body inhalation chamber system. The exposure concentrations were 0.52 ± 0.05, 4.08 ± 0.25, and 30.83 ± 1.28 ppm for the low-, middle-, and high-dose group, respectively. Body weight changes were not affected by exposure to 1-methylnaphthalene. Blood prothrombin time was delayed at 30 ppm in male and female groups, and activated partial thromboplastin time was also delayed at 30 ppm in the male group. Values of alanine aminotransferase in the serum were decreased and those of albumin were increased at 30 ppm in the male group. Differential cell counts and levels of lactate dehydrogenase in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were not affected. However, mucous cell hyperplasia in the nasopharyngeal tissues was found and the severity was correlated to exposure concentrations. In conclusion, 1-methylnaphthalene mainly affects the upper respiratory system and the no-observed-adverse-effect level is suggested to be 4 ppm on the basis of histopathological findings.