Systemic Effects of Segmental Vibration in an Animal Model of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiology suggests that occupational exposure to hand-transmitted (segmental) vibration has local and systemic effects. This study used an animal model of segmental vibration to characterize the systemic effects of vibration.

METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to tail vibration for 10 days. Genes indicative of inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell cycle, along were measured in the heart, kidney, prostate, and liver.

RESULTS: Vibration increased oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory gene expression, and decreased anti-oxidant enzymes in heart tissue. In the prostate and liver, vibration resulted in changes in the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and genes involved in cell cycle regulation.

CONCLUSIONS: These changes are consistent with epidemiological studies suggesting that segmental vibration has systemic effects. These effects may be mediated by changes in autonomic nervous system function, and/or inflammation and oxidative stress.