Morphology and function of alveolar macrophages after long-term nickel exposure
1980; Elsevier BV; Volume: 23; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0013-9351(80)90103-6
ISSN1096-0953
AutoresAnne Johansson, Per Camner, Connie Jarstrand, Anna Wiernik,
Tópico(s)Air Quality and Health Impacts
ResumoIn a group of 24 rabbits, 12 were exposed to 1.0 mg/m3 (SD 0.7) of metallic nickel dust and 12 used as controls. Six rabbits were exposed for 3 months and six for 6 months (5 days/week, 6 hr/day). After exposure the lungs were extracted and lavaged. Macrophages were examined by light and electron microscopy and their oxidative metabolism studied by measuring the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Most macrophages had a strikingly smooth surface and a cytoplasm containing closely packed, membrane-bound lamellar bodies. The proportion of this cell type was significantly larger after 6 months' than after 3 months' exposure. These macrophages differed not only from those of controls but also from macrophages in rabbits earlier exposed for 1 month to about the same concentration of metallic nickel dust. Macrophages from these rabbits had an active cell surface with numerous slender microvilli and long protrusions. The metabolism was significantly higher than in controls after both 3 and 6 months' exposure. In contrast to macrophages from the 1-month experiment and controls, these macrophages did not significantly increase their metabolism upon stimulation with bacteria.
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