title: In vitro effects of large and small glass fibers on rat alveolar macrophages.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the use of alveolar macrophage culture to evaluate the cytotoxicity of two glass fiber materials, a building insulation fiberglass (a relatively long and thick fiber) and a glass microfiber (a short and thin fiber). Alveolar macrophages were obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats by bronchoalveolar lavage and were cultured with varying fiber concentrations for up to 3 d. Fiber toxicity was assessed by assaying cell viability, membrane integrity, and phagocyte function. The microfibers exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity shown by the loss of cell viability and function. The building insulation fiberglass had little effect on cell viability and did not change macrophage function in this assay system. The results of this study show that short and thin glass fibers are more toxic than long and thick fibers in vitro, supporting a role of fiber dimension in toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Disease Studies and Health Effects, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castranova
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pailes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Judy
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwegler-Berry
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005898:Glass; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; C009753:fiberglass; D001194:Asbestos; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase