[Studies on serum angiotensin-I-converting enzyme activity of experimental silicosis in rats].

The level of serum angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (SACE) activity on experimental silicosis in rats at different stages and under treatment with PVNO is reported. The results showed that levels of SACE in each dust groups begun to rise significantly higher than control groups as from the fifth day until 180th day (P less than 0.05). The levels of SACE of treatment groups with PVNO were significantly lower than the dust groups and similar to normal groups of the same age. It is suggested that SACE activity might be used as a reference index of silicosis.