Measurement of particle clearance from the alveolar region of the rabbit respiratory tract.
This paper describes a method for the measurement of the clearance of inert, insoluble radioactively tagged tracer particles from the alveolar region of the rabbit respiratory tract. The technique uses a fixed detector for noninvasive, external monitoring. Validation of the method is presented, as is the clearance pattern of 3.5-micron latex particles as measured for 56 days postexposure. The clearance of latex deposited within the alveolar region can be described by two phases within this time frame, having half-times of 4.9 and 30.1 days, respectively. Clearance of latex initially deposited on the tracheobronchial tree was essentially complete by 2 days after exposure.
D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism; D007840:Latex / Q000378:metabolism; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
D007840:Latex