Alveolar macrophages in rabbits after combined exposure to nickel and trivalent chromium

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(88)80026-4· OSTI ID:6922354

Johansson, A; Wiernik, A; Lundborg, M; Jarstrand, C; Camner, P

Rabbits were exposed to a combination of 0.7 mg/m3 Ni2+ as NiCl/sub 2/ and 1.2 mg/m3 of Cr3+ as Cr(NO/sub 3/)/sub 3/, to 0.6 mg/m3 of Ni2+ as NiCl/sub 2/, or to filtered air for about 4 months, 5 days/week and 6 hr/day. Alveolar macrophages were recovered by lung lavage and studied by light and electron microscopy. Metabolic activity, phagocytic capacity and lysozyme activity in the macrophages were studied. After the combined exposure, the effects on lung weight, number of macrophages, and appearance of surface and number of intracellular laminated inclusions in these cells were more than additive. These effects might be explained by a combination of increased production by Ni2+ and impaired catabolism of surfactant by Cr3+. Because the metal concentrations used were not far above occupational threshold limit values, combined exposures to nickel and trivalent chromium should be considered more seriously.

• Research Organization: Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)
• OSTI ID: 6922354
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 46:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHROMIUM
METABOLISM
MACROPHAGES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
NICKEL
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
LAVAGE
LUNGS
LYSOZYME
RABBITS
SYNERGISM
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HYDROLASES
MAMMALS
METALS
MICROSCOPY
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANS
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology