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Title: Effect of enzyme-induced pulmonary emphysema in Syrian hamsters on the deposition and long-term retention of inhaled particles

Journal Article · · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

Experimental emphysema was induced in Syrian hamsters by: (a) intratracheal instillation of elastase; or (b) inhalation of paparin aerosols. After 3 wk, treated and control groups were simultaneously exposed to an aerosol of relatively insoluble /sup 137/Cs-labeled, heat-treated aluminosilicate particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 1.4 or 1.6 ..mu..m. The lung deposition of particles measured 3 hr after inhalation exposure was significantly lower in hamsters exposed to elastase or papain. The mean whole-body retention data for each group were fitted with three-component exponential equations. The first component, which represented early clearance and constituted 78% to 83% of the initial body burden in all groups, occurred rapidly with a half-time of 0.6 to 0.8 days, and probably represented particles deposited in the nasopharynx and ciliated airways. The second component represented an intermediate clearance phase and was much faster in animals with emphysema than in controls. The enzyme treatments resulted in a prolonged half-time in the long-term clearance component. The effect of both enzyme treatments on the retention of particles was similar although the patterns of emphysema produced differed. Elastase instilled intratracheally caused diffuse destruction and enlargement of alveoli with a loss of pulmonary elastic recoil. Papain aerosols caused focal destruction and enlargement of alveoli around terminal bronchioles with no loss of elastic recoil. A common feature was an increased number of alveolar macrophages, which may account for the increased, early clearance of particles. The prolonged retention of a small fraction of particles may be due to focal accumulations of particle-laden macrophages which were prominent in distal alveoli of the papain-exposed hamsters and, to a lesser degree, in the elastase-treated hamsters.

Research Organization:
Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM
OSTI ID:
5590021
Journal Information:
Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 34:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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