Uptake, distribution and elimination of alpha-pinene in man after exposure by inhalation

The toxicokinetics of alpha-pinene were studied in human volunteers exposed by inhalation (2 h, 50 W) in an exposure chamber on four occasions. The exposures were about 10, 225, and 450 mg/m3 (+)-alpha-pinene and 450 mg/m3 (-)-alpha-pinene. The relative pulmonary uptake was about 60% for the higher exposures, and total uptake increased linearly with increasing exposure. The total blood clearance was high, about 1.11.h-1.kg-1. After the exposure was terminated, less than 0.001% of the total uptake was eliminated unchanged in the urine and about 8% in exhaled air. A long half-time in poorly perfused tissues indicates a high affinity to adipose tissues. There was a statistically significant exposure-response relationship among five subjects who experienced irritation. Short-time exposure to alpha-pinene did not give rise to acute changes in lung function 20 min after the exposure.

Effects of digital acupressure on the capillary arteriolar flow in cerebral pia mater of the dog

Effects of digital acupressure on the blood flow in the capillary arterioles of the cerebral pia mater covering the posterior sigmoidal gyrus in domestic dog (Canis familiaris) were observed. The speed of blood flow was found increased to 185% after continuous digital acupressure for 20 minutes. The increase was most prominent 15 minutes after the acupressure was completed; the effect subsided in 30 minutes. It was also found that in cases of low basal speed of flow before digital acupressure, the increase in the speed of blood flow after acupressure was more pronounced.