title: Influence of refractory ceramic fibres - asbestos substitute - on the selected parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage 6 months after intratracheal instillation to W-rats.
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.
authors.affiliation: Research Base of the Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia. marta.hurbankova@szu.sk
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurbánková
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerná
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gergelová
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wimmerová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002516:Ceramics; D007616:Kaolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019016:Mineral Fibers; C103119:RCF-1 fiber; D007616:Kaolin