Inhalation toxicity of (1-->3)-beta-D glucan: recent advances.
To investigate the effects of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan after inhalation, animals were exposed to different forms of glucan and the number of lung lavage cells was determined 24 h after exposure. None of the different forms assayed caused any increase in cell numbers. In animals exposed to endotoxin, all types of cells were increased after 24 h. A simultaneous exposure to curdlan reduced this increase in a dose-related fashion. The results suggest that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-related acute injury to the lung is induced by mechanisms other than those induced by inflammagenic agents such as endotoxin.
Fogelmark
B
B
Department of Environmental Medicine University of Gothenburg Medicinaregatan 16 Gothenburg S-413 90 Sweden.
Sjöstrand
M
M
Williams
D
D
Rylander
R
R