Response of perifused alveolar macrophages to glass fibers: effect of exposure duration and fiber length

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80014-7· OSTI ID:6024019

Forget, G; Lacroix, M J; Brown, R C; Evans, P H; Sirois, P

The effect of glass fibers on rat alveolar macrophages was studied with a new perifusion technique which allows the sequential determination of cell-derived inflammatory mediators as well as estimation of cell viability and aggregation at the end of the incubation period. Results showed that glass fibers induced dose-dependent release of prostaglandins and B-glucuronidase from macrophages and the aggregation and death of these cells. These deleterious effects were clearly related to the length of the fibers, with the longer fibers (greater than or equal to4-5 ..mu..m) being more active than the shorter ones (<3 ..mu..m). Furthermore, a short exposure of 1 hr followed by an 18-hr perifusion induced the same inflammatory and toxic effects on the macrophages as did leaving the fibers undisturbed for the complete 18-hr perifusion. Measurement of prostaglandins was performed by radioimmunoassay. It is concluded that glass fibers produce effects in cultures of rat alveolar macrophages qualitatively similar to those of asbestos, and that fiber length appears to be a critical determinant of toxicity.

• Research Organization: Universite de Sherbrooke, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 6024019
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 39:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FIBERS
LENGTH
TOXICITY
GLASS
MACROPHAGES
AGGLOMERATION
INFLAMMATION
PROSTAGLANDINS
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
GLUCURONIDASE
PERFUSED TISSUES
RATS
TIME DEPENDENCE
VIABILITY
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DIMENSIONS
ENZYMES
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HYDROLASES
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MAMMALS
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHAGOCYTES
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
560301* - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology- Cells- (-1987)
550301 - Cytology- Tracer Techniques