Alveolar macrophage response to carbon in monocyte-depleted mice

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6579581

Bowden, D H; Adamson, I Y

The predominant source of alveolar macrophages is monocytic migration with a smaller proportion arising from dividing interstitial cells. To determine how this system responds to particulate loading when depleted of monocytes, mice received 650 rad whole body irradiation followed by 4 mg carbon instilled into the trachea. Control groups included irradiated mice given no carbon and nonirradiated mice given carbon. After irradiation alone, the number of monocytes fell to a very low level for at least 3 wk, whereas the output of alveolar macrophages remained normal. In nonirradiated mice, carbon induced a tenfold increase in macrophages the first day, dropping rapidly after 1 wk. Macrophage output in irradiated animals given carbon doubled the first day, then rose to 4 times normal after 2 wk. This limited response to carbon was accompanied by increased DNA synthesis in pulmonary interstitial cells, but the number of circulating monocytes and labeling of alveolar macrophages remained very low. The results indicate that when monocytes are not available, output of alveolar macrophages is maintained by precursor cells in the pulmonary interstitium. This interstitial compartment provides an essential back-up mechanism capable of responding to increased particulate loading in both normal and monocytopenic animals.

• Research Organization: Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6579581
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 126:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MACROPHAGES
LEUKOPOIESIS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BLOOD COUNT
CARBON
DNA
INTRATRACHEAL ADMINISTRATION
IRRADIATION
LEUKOPENIA
LUNGS
MICE
MONOCYTES
PARTICULATES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD FORMATION
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
HEMIC DISEASES
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARTICLES
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
550300 - Cytology