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Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis resolves spontaneously if dense scars are not formed

Journal Article · · Exp. Mol. Pathol.; (United States)
; ; ; ;
The relation of static compliance of excised lungs to collagen accumulation and histologic fibrosis was examined in Syrian hamsters inhaling sufficient /sup 238/PuO2 particles to achieve initial lung burdens of 50 or 100 nCi. Control animals were exposed to nonradioactive aerosols. Irradiated lungs from hamsters at both dose levels had compliance reduced to the same extent at point of maximal reduction. However, collagen accumulation was more closely related to /sup 238/Pu exposure level than the compliance measurements. Histologic examination revealed both diffuse alveolar thickening and some dense fibrous scars, the former predominating at lower dose levels. Hamsters exposed to 50 nCi /sup 238/PuO2 showed normal collagen content and static lung compliance with minimal histologic fibrosis 288 days after exposure. In contrast, hamsters exposed to 100 nCi had significant pulmonary fibrosis at that time and the highest incidence of dense scars at any time period. Such findings are consistent with a stiffening of lung parenchyma. They suggest that the diffuse interstitial fibrosis developed by this injury resolves spontaneously; dense fibrous scars, however, do not.
Research Organization:
Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
OSTI ID:
5762282
Journal Information:
Exp. Mol. Pathol.; (United States), Journal Name: Exp. Mol. Pathol.; (United States) Vol. 38:1; ISSN EXMPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION
BODY
BODY BURDEN
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLAGEN
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FIBROSIS
HAMSTERS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MAMMALS
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOVERY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SCLEROPROTEINS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES