Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(Supplement):S11-S13

Some Lung Cellular Parametres Reflecting Inflammation after Combined Inhalation of Amosite Dust with Cigarette Smoke by Rats

Beňo M.¹, Hurbánková M.¹, Dušinská M.¹, Volkovová K.¹, Staruchová M.¹, Černá S.¹, Barančoková M.¹, Kažimírová A.¹, Kováčiková Z.¹, Bobek P.¹, Horecký M.¹, Mikulecký M.¹, Kyrtopoulos S.A.²

¹ Slovak Medical University, Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine Bratislava, Slovak Republic

² Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece

Cellular changes were followed in lung cell suspensions after 175 day inhalation by rats of concentrations 30 mg/m3 or 60 mg/m3 of amosite asbestos every second day combined with daily exposure to cigarette smoke at 30 mg of total particulate matter (TPM)/m3 air. Concomitantly, lung inflammation was assessed by changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A dose-dependent rise in the BALF inflammatory parameters was found. The rise of the proportion of binucleate (BNC) and multinucleate cells (MNC) in lung cell suspensions was also dose-dependent. It is concluded that, in the experimental assessment of effects of fibrogenic dusts, the number of BNC and of MNC in lung cell suspensions may serve as a useful semiquantitative biomarker of the inflammation.

Keywords: amosite, asbestos, inhalation, rats, multinucleate cells

Published: March 1, 2004  Show citation