Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Pathologic response of the lung to irritant gases

Journal Article · · Veterinary and Human Toxicology; (USA)
OSTI ID:6143239
The pathologic response of the lung to irritant gases ranges from the acute exudative phase through the subacute proliferative phase to the chronic fibrosing phase. These responses are based on damage to the Type I cells, and possibly endothelial cells, and the subsequent proliferative and repair processes in the surviving animals. Responses to high dose exposures appear at the microscopic level as exudation of protein rich fluids into alveoli (alveolar edema) and subsequent death due to anoxia. Physiologically, this could be described as a mismatch of ventilation with perfusion, resulting in impaired gas exchange. Animals surviving this acute exudative phase resolve the alveolar edema to fibrin, and Type II cells become hypertrophic and hyperplastic in the process of replacing the damaged Type I cells. The acute and subacute responses also elicit inflammatory changes in the interstitium of the lung that may progress to fibrosis in the chronic stage of a survivable exposure. Diagnostic cases in livestock involving irritant gases reflect similar toxic injuries to the lung.
OSTI ID:
6143239
Journal Information:
Veterinary and Human Toxicology; (USA), Journal Name: Veterinary and Human Toxicology; (USA) Vol. 32:6; ISSN 0145-6296; ISSN VHTOD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON RADIATION PNEUMONITIS
Journal Article · Tue Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 1963 · Tohoku J. Exptl. Med. · OSTI ID:4069335

DEVELOPMENT OF RADIATION PNEUMONITIS TIME AND DOSE FACTORS
Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1962 · Archives of Pathology (U.S.) Formerly Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. Formerly AMA Arch. Pathol. Changed back to Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · OSTI ID:4750009

Phase-dependent response of the lung to NO sub 2 irritant insult
Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology; (USA) · OSTI ID:6905374