Exposure to phosphine (PH3), a common grain fumigant, is characterized by diverse nonspecific symptoms and a high mortality rate. Although PH3 poisoning is thought to target oxidative respiration, the exact mechanism of action remains largely unknown, resulting in limited treatment options. In our study, the effects of PH3 on female rats were assessed to elucidate potential sex‐specific differences and obtain a more comprehensive understanding of PH3 toxicity. Lethality, physiology, and behavior were evaluated in female rats exposed to gaseous PH3 (13,200–26,400 ppm × min), and results were compared with corresponding findings in male rats. Median lethal concentration‐time (LCt50) and time of death (tTOD) did not differ significantly between the sexes. Cardiopulmonary changes induced by PH3 were also of comparable magnitude, although temporally, respiratory responses occurred earlier and cardiovascular variations manifested later in female rats. Behavioral observations corroborated physiological findings and indicated a response to hypoxic conditions and low cardiac output. Together, these results provided insights on the toxic mechanisms of PH3, in particular, its potential interference with oxygen transport and circulation.

中文翻译：

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用于评估磷化氢吸入毒性的性别平衡啮齿动物模型

磷化氢 (PH3) 是一种常见的谷物熏蒸剂，其特点是多种非特异性症状和高死亡率。虽然 PH3 中毒被认为是针对氧化呼吸，但其确切的作用机制在很大程度上仍然未知，导致治疗选择有限。在我们的研究中，评估了 PH3 对雌性大鼠的影响，以阐明潜在的性别差异并更全面地了解 PH3 毒性。在暴露于气态 PH3（13,200–26,400 ppm × min）的雌性大鼠中评估了致死率、生理学和行为，并将结果与​​雄性大鼠的相应发现进行了比较。中位数致死浓度-时间（LCt50）和死亡时间（tTOD）在两性之间没有显着差异。PH3 引起的心肺变化也具有相当的幅度，尽管在时间上，在雌性大鼠中，呼吸反应发生较早，心血管变异较晚出现。行为观察证实了生理发现，并表明对缺氧条件和低心输出量的反应。总之，这些结果提供了对 PH3 毒性机制的见解，特别是它对氧气运输和循环的潜在干扰。