Alterations in the Cellular Population of the Alveolar Wall in an Animal Model of Fibrosis: A Morphometric Study

Abstract

A reproducible animal model of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is generated in rodents by intratracheal injection of the antineoplastic drug, bleomycin sulfate. Pulmonary lesions resemble closely those observed in human patients with fibrosis. Fibrotic lesions are most pronounced 3–4 weeks after the drug's instillation. 1 Snider GL Hayes JA Korthy AL Chronic interstitial pulmonary fibrosis produced in hamsters by endotracheal bleomycin: pathology and stereology. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1978; 117: 1099-1108 PubMed Google Scholar Histologically, increased interstitial connective tissue and hypercellularity are observed. 1 Snider GL Hayes JA Korthy AL Chronic interstitial pulmonary fibrosis produced in hamsters by endotracheal bleomycin: pathology and stereology. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1978; 117: 1099-1108 PubMed Google Scholar Biochemical assays reveal increased lung collagen and elastin, 2 Starcher BC Kuhn C Overton JE Increased elastin and collagen content in the lungs of hamsters receiving an intratracheal injection of bleomycin. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1978; 117: 299-305 PubMed Google Scholar and physiologic measurements show reduced compliance and decreased lung volumes, as those observed in humans with the disease. 3 Snider GL Celli BR Goldstein RH O'Brien JJ Lucey EC Chronic interstitial pulmonary fibrosis produced in hamsters by endotracheal bleomycin: lung volumes, volume-pressure relations, carbon monoxide uptake, and arterial blood gas studies. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1978; 117: 289-297 PubMed Google Scholar , 4 Kelley J Newman R Evans JN Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in the rat: prevention with an inhibitor of collagen synthesis. J Lab Clin Med. 1980; 96: 954-964 PubMed Google Scholar