Sequence of bronchoalveolar lavage and histopathologic findings in rat lungs early in inhalation asbestos exposure

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398709530968· OSTI ID:6723777

Smith, C M; Batcher, S; Catanzaro, A; Abraham, J L; Phalen, R

To assess the early cellular inflammatory response of the lungs, 7 rats per group were exposed nose-only to 13 mg/m/sup 3/ of chrysotile asbestos, 7 h/day for 2, 4, or 6 wk. Lung histopathology and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were analyzed. In exposed animals, dose-related bronchiolitis and fibrosis were found that were not seen in control rats. In exposed rats, total BAL cells were increased six- to sevenfold over matched controls, and more cells were retrieved with longer exposure. In the BAL, counts of macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) were each elevated in the exposed rats. PMNs seen histologically in the BAL may be related to the time period examined. PMNs and lymphocytes observed throughout this 6-wk study support the idea that these cells may have an important role in early events of asbestos lung injury.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6723777
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 20:1-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
TOXICITY
LUNGS
FIBROSIS
INFLAMMATION
HISTOLOGY
INHALATION
LAVAGE
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MACROPHAGES
RATS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology