Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Underground microclimate influence of
Romanian Ocna Dej and Cacica salt mines on
wistar white rats induced pathologies
experimental model
Hoteteu M (1) , Simionca I (1) , Munteanu C (1) , Cinteza D (1) ,
Lazarescu H (1) , Dumitrescu E (1)
(1) National Institute of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Balneology,
Bucharest, Romania
secretar@bioclima.ro
Introduction and Objectives
The aim of this study is to determine the effect of underground microclimate
from romanian Cacica and Ocna Dej salt mines on protein metabolism and
hidroelectrolyte balance in different age Wistar white rats with induced pathology
subjected to speleotherapy cure in mentioned salt mines.
Materials and Methods
The study was performed on 80 young and adult Wistar white rats sensibilized
with induced allergic pathology by ovalbumine or skin pathology (wounds, burns)
divided in experimental and control groups. The rats from experimental groups
were subjected to a speleotherapy cure in Ocna Dej or Cacica salt mines.
The air composition of underground environment in the Cacica and Ocna Dej
salt mines were determined with RAE gas detection tubes and the following gases
and volatile compounds were assayed: O2 (%), CO2 (%), CO (ppmv), SO2 (ppmv),
O3 (ppmv), Cl2 (ppmv), NH3 (ppmv), NOX (ppmv), HC (ppmv), H2O (mg/L).
Total protein concentration was assayed by microplate biuret reaction, the readings
being made with a Modulus Multimode Microplate Reader (Turner Biosystems).
Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on cellulose acetate using a Genio S
(Interlab) electrophoresis automated system.
In order to study the electrolyte balance animals were kept for 24 hours in individual
metabolic cages without food and with free access to a saline solution. After
24 hours were measured water volume (ml/24 h) and the amount of sodium intake
(mEq/24 h), urine volume (ml/24 h) and concentrations of sodium and potassium in
urine (mEq/24 h) using a Ciba Corning 480 flame photometer. From these values
were calculated the urinary Na/K ratio as an expression of the mineralocorticoid
response of adrenals in the experimental conditions.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 315-316
315
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4