The effect of activation of macrophages on the advancement of experimental lung emphysema.
Experiments were carried out on 68 Wistar rats of both sexes. Five s.c. injections of BCG vaccine (once a week) were applied as macrophage mobilizing and activating agent. Papain or physiological saline was given once intratracheally after the 3rd dose of BCG. 4 weeks after the latter substances had been administered the animals were sacrificed. The lungs and the pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) were examined using histological and morphometric techniques; SEM and TEM were applied for assessing ultrastructure of PAM and lung sections. In rats given BCG the number of PAM was increased, and their morphological features showed enhanced activity. In these animals the aggravated emphysematous changes induced by papain should be ascribed to the cumulation of PAM and their increased activity in the lungs.
Chyczewski
L S
LS
Department of Pathology, Medical Academy, Bialystok, Poland.
Sulkowski
S L
SL
D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004646:Emphysema / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values
D001500:BCG Vaccine