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The American Journal of Pathology logoLink to The American Journal of Pathology
. 1989 Jun;134(6):1243–1251.

Biphasic cellular and tissue response of rat lungs after eight-day aerosol exposure to the silicon dioxide cristobalite.

M P Absher 1, L Trombley 1, D R Hemenway 1, R M Mickey 1, K O Leslie 1
PMCID: PMC1879948  PMID: 2547319

Abstract

Cristobalite is a crystalline silicon dioxide that elicits pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in humans and experimental animals. Exposure of rats to aerosols of respirable cristobalite for 8 days led to a rapid influx of neutrophils and macrophages into alveolar and tissue compartments of the lung followed by a more gradual accumulation of T lymphocytes. This inflammatory response persisted throughout 52 weeks after the end of the exposure. For some variables studied there appeared to be a cyclical nature to the response. Statistical analysis of alveolar cell populations and lung tissue weight, protein, and hydroxyproline showed significant time-dependent fluctuations. Histologic analysis revealed a progressive deposition of collagen and type II cell hyperplasia centered on airways, however, there appeared to be some correlation between fluctuations in alveolar cell populations and overall tissue pathology. The observed cellular and biochemical fluctuations and the persistence of the inflammatory response may be due to the presence of silica in the lung, which serves as a source of repetitive stimulation of lung cells.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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