LIGHT AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF RAT DIGESTIVE-TRACT FOLLOWING PROLONGED AND SHORT-TERM INGESTION OF CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (5) , 443-453
Abstract
Rats were fed diets containing 0.5 or 50 mg of chrysotile asbestos each day for 1 wk or 14 mo. and tissues of the gastrointestinal tract were examined by light microscopy and EM. At the light microscope level the esophagus, stomach and cecum in treated animals appeared unaffected; accumulation of cellular debris and Alcian blue-positive material was apparent in the ileal, rectal and colonic lumens. EM examination of the colon and ileum of rats ingesting 50 mg chrysotile/day for 14 mo. confirmed these findings and indicated changes in the mucosal lining cells of the ileum which were consistent with a mineral-induced cytotoxicity. These results are compared with those reported in a similar previous biochemical study and the specificity of asbestos action on certain regions of the gastrointestinal tract is discussed.