In Vitro Studies of Leukocytes Lavaged from the Lungs of Rats Following the Inhalation of Mineral Dusts

Much has been learned concerning the harmful effects of mineral dusts and other toxic materials by both in vivo and in vitro techniques. Both approaches have disadvantages, however. With in vivo studies exposure can be conducted under physiologically normal conditions but it is more difficult to unravel the complex sub-cellular and molecular events. In vitro, target cells can be examined in much greater detail but dose levels may have to be excessive to produce effects in an acceptable time scale and the absence of the whole of the body’s defensive systems and factors such as recruitment of new populations limit this approach. An approach now being adopted more frequently where target cells are readily available by simple techniques such as pulmonary lavage is to undertake exposure to harmful substances in vivo followed by examination of target cells and their products in vitro. This paper reports studies in which rats were exposed to three coalmine dusts, two varieties of asbestos, quartz and titanium dioxide administered by inhalation. Subsequently, their lungs were lavaged and a series of studies undertaken with the cell populations obtained.