Relationship of clearance and deposition of silica to histological and immunological changes. Master's thesis

Technical Report · Tue Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6718045

Burns, C A

Inbred female Balb/c-mice were exposed to silica dust over a period of 39 weeks to study alterations of B-lymphocyte immunocompetence. At all time points following the aerosol-stimulation of the mice with whole Escherichia-coli-055:B5, the thymus-independent anti Escherichia-coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) response was significantly suppressed in the spleen. In the mediastinal lymph nodes (MLN) the immune response to LPS was enhanced at 9 weeks, followed by a depression. When the silicon damaged lungs were bypassed using an intravenous injection of the antigen the response was not noted. Histological examination of silicotic lesions indicated silica laden aggregations or dust cells at 24, 33, 36, and 39 weeks. The presence of silica dust in the lungs was confirmed using energy dispersive x-ray analysis, which also identified submicroscopic silica particles in the spleen. The lungs and MLNs demonstrated granulomatous and fibrotic changes at 39 weeks. Aerosol-immunized lungs demonstrated perivascular and peribronchiolar lymphocytic cuffing. The bronchioles of silica exposed animals contained a greater number of macrophages. Infiltration of macrophages was noted adjacent to blood vessels and respiratory airways on scanning electron microscopy examination.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Center for Air Environment Studies
• OSTI ID: 6718045
• Report Number(s): PB-88-237714/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
CARBOHYDRATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEARANCE
DISEASES
DUSTS
EXCRETION
IMMUNE REACTIONS
LIPIDS
LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES
LUNG CLEARANCE
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MICE
MINERALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYSACCHARIDES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
SACCHARIDES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
VERTEBRATES