Rabbit alveolar macrophages after long-term inhalation of soluble cobalt

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80143-8· OSTI ID:7164093

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

Rabbits were exposed to 2 or 0.4 mg/m/sup 3/ of cobalt as CoCl/sub 2/ for 14-16 weeks (5 days/week and 6 hr/day). More macrophages were lavaged from the lungs of rabbits exposed to the higher Co/sup 2 +/ concentration, and the diameter and variation of the diameter of the macrophages were significantly larger than in controls. The activity of lysozyme in the lavage fluid and in the macrophages was increased in the two exposed groups. Some macrophages in the exposed animals were large and engorged with intracellular lamellar inclusions and lipid droplets. Most of these cells had a smooth surface. The oxidative metabolic activity measured by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium was increased in the exposed groups. The number of yeast cell particles attached to the surface of the macrophages was increased in the group exposed to the high concentration, but the number of ingested particles was not affected by cobalt exposure. Apart from the fact cobalt increased lysozyme activity whereas nickel decreased it, cobalt produced the same type of effects on macrophages as nickel did in earlier studies. Cobalt affected only a minor proportion whereas nickel affected most macrophages. This can be explained by the fact nickel produced a general increase in the volume density of the type II cells while cobalt affected the type II cells only in some areas of the lungs.

• Research Organization: National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 7164093
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 41:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COBALT
TOXICITY
MACROPHAGES
CELL PROLIFERATION
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
AEROSOLS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
COBALT CHLORIDES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
METABOLISM
PARTICULATES
RABBITS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COBALT COMPOUNDS
COLLOIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METALS
PARTICLES
PHAGOCYTES
SOLS
SOMATIC CELLS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology