Alveolar macrophage abnormalities in rabbits exposed to low concentrations of trivalent chromium

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(87)80237-2· OSTI ID:5516767

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

Rabbits were exposed by inhalation to a trivalent chromium compound (Cr(NO/sub 3/)/sub 3/) at a mean chromium concentration of 0.6 or 2.3 mg/m/sup 3/ for about 4 months, 5 days/week and 6 hr/day. Light microscopic examination of the lungs revealed that both chromium levels induced a nodular intraalveolar accumulation of enlarged macrophages with granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some macrophages were multinucleated and some showed advanced degenerative changes with disruption of cellular borders and nuclear pyknosis. The changes were most prominent in rabbits exposed to the high concentration and were in some areas associated with a mild interstitial infiltrations of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. Electron microscopic examination of macrophages lavaged from the lungs revealed numerous enlarged lysosomes with membranous structures, distinct rounded inclusions, which by X-ray microanalysis were found to contain high amounts of chromium and increased numbers of laminated inclusions probably representing ingested surfactant. The number of macrophages with a smooth surface was significantly increased. The macrophages in the lung tissue showed the same changes and in addition nodules of multinucleated giant cells were found. In spite of the elevated number of laminated structures in the macrophages the amounts of phosphatidylcholine and 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were not significantly increased in the lung.

• Research Organization: National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 5516767
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 44:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BODY
CHROMIUM
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM NITRATES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LUNGS
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
METALS
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
RABBITS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SOMATIC CELLS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES