Abstract
Industrial fibrous dusts are applied in many industrial branches and represent adverse factors in occupational and environmental area. Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) - amorphous alumina silicates - are used as one kind of asbestos substitutes. Because RCFs are relatively durable and some RCFs are respirable, they may present a potential health hazard by inhalation. The aim of present work was to find out the subchronic effect of RCFs on selected parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in W-rats, confirm the biopersistence of RCFs after 6 month instillation and contribute to the understanding of the pathomechanism of lung injury after fibrous dust exposure. Wistar rats were intratracheally instilled with 4 mg/animal of RCFs - exposed group and with 0.4 ml saline solution/animal - control group. Animals were sacrificed after 6 month exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and selected BAL parameters (mainly inflammatory and cytotoxic) were examined. After treatment with RCFs the following changes were observed: statistically significant increase in proportion of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclears as well as in % of immature alveolar macrophages (AM) and phagocytic activity of AM; statistically significant decrease in viability of AM and proportion of AM (from the differential cell count) in comparison with the control group. The results of this study indicated that RCFs even 6 months after intratracheal instillation very significantly changed the majority of examined BAL parameters. The presence of inflammatory and cytotoxic response in lung may signalize beginning or developing disease process.
Highlights
The study of the effects of industrial fiber dusts on respiratory system has been a long lasting urgent problem
Compared with the control group, statistically significant increases were found in the following BALF parameters: proportion of PMN (p < 0.01), proportion of LY (p < 0.01), % of immature alveolar macrophages (AM) (p < 0.01) as well as phagocytic activity of AM (p < 0.01)
The number and the type of cells obtained via bronchoalveolar lavage as well as their viability and state of activation enable us to understand the extent of a possible harmful effect of inhaled noxious substances
Summary
The study of the effects of industrial fiber dusts on respiratory system has been a long lasting urgent problem. Our present work, aimed at revealing the subchronic effects of middle experimental dose – 4 mg RCFs per animal – on the respiratory system, focused on the understanding of the pathogenetic process in response to exposure to ceramic fibers.
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