Morphometry and densitometry of alveolar macrophage cytoplasmic particles in Chernobyl, Ukraine, liquidators.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize intracytoplasmic particles found in alveolar macrophages (AMs) sampled by bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) performed on Chernobyl, Ukraine, liquidators suffering form chronic obstructive lung disease.


METHODS
Eight BALs were assessed. BAL products containing AMs were cytocentrifuged, and appropriate fixation and epoxy embedding were performed for ultrastructural study. Morphometry of cells (AMs) and of cytoplasmic particles was then obtained by processing, using dedicated software, digitized ultrastructural images.


RESULTS
AM cytoplasm contained crowded phagolysozomes, varying in size, shape and density and enclosing dense particles rich in radionuclides, with particular morphometric features: surface, 387 +/- 543 pixels (mean +/- SD); number, 77 +/- 34; phagozome/cell surface ratio, 23.7%; shape factor, 1.32 +/- 0.23; and mean optical density, 171 +/- 31.


CONCLUSIONS
Processing of digitized ultrastructural images of AMs provides accurate morphometric data that can be used further for clinical purposes, in particular to evaluate BAL performed either for diagnosis or treatment.
Charpin
C
C
Department of Pathology, Faculté Medecine Timone, Marseille, France.
Garcia
S
S
Chernaiev
A
A
Grobova
O
O
Charpin
D
D
Hoffschir
D
D
Voisin
C
C
Chuchalin
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001991:Bronchitis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D003720:Densitometry; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011210:Power Plants; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D011868:Radioisotopes; D014455:Ukraine
D011868:Radioisotopes