Lung morphology and phospholipids after experimental inhalation of soluble cadmium, copper, and cobalt

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(84)90098-7· OSTI ID:5927783

Johansson, A; Curstedt, T; Robertson, B; Camner, P

Rabbits were exposed to chlorides of cadmium, copper, or cobalt, for 4 to 6 weeks (5 days/week and 6 hr/day) at levels ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 mg metal/m/sup 3/. After exposure to Cd/sup 2 +/ the lungs were enlarged and an interstitial infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes as well as intraalveolar accumulations of large, vacuolated macrophages were observed. Morphometrical measurement of volume density of type II cells showed a 2.5-fold increase due to enhancement of cell size as well as cell number. The phospholipid content of lung tissue, determined in the lower left lobe, increased by 40%, mainly due to elevated levels of disaturated phosphatidylcholines. The results indicate that Cd/sup 2 +/ induces a reaction pattern similar to that seen following exposure to Ni/sup 2 +/, in addition to which Cd/sup 2 +/ causes interstitial alveolitis. Exposure to Cu/sup 2 +/ and Co/sup 7 +/ only affected the type II cells. Exposure to Cu/sup 7 +/ resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in volume density, probably due to enhanced number of cells. Following exposure to Co/sup 2 +/ the type II cells formed nodules protruding into the alveolar lumen. However, no significant increase in volume density occurred. The possible association between this abnormal growth pattern and early tumor formation deserves further investigation.

• Research Organization: National Inst. of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 5927783
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 34:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
TOXICITY
COBALT
COPPER
LUNGS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INHALATION
RABBITS
ANIMALS
BODY
DATA
ELEMENTS
ESTERS
INFORMATION
INTAKE
KINETICS
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
REACTION KINETICS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)