CELL CONTENT IN REPETITIVE CANINE BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (6) , 558-563
Abstract
To determine the effects and effectiveness of small volume (50 ml) bronchoalveolar lavage, lavages were performed on healthy mongrel dogs under a number of protocols. The differential and total cell counts in small volume bronchoalveolar lavages were determined. These factors were compared to those obtained by large volume (500-600 ml) lavage of the same segment in a 2nd group. Small volume lavage yielded a greater total cell count per milliliter and a greater concentration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) than large volume lavage, in which there was a somewhat higher concentration of bronchial cells. Cell populations from lobes lavaged at 48 h intervals were compared. No significant changes in these populations or in pulmonary histology were noted. Apparently, small volume bronchoalveolar lavage performed at 48 h intervals does not influence the distribution of these cells or significantly damage the pulmonary parenchyma.