Experimental Asbestosis in Rats: The Effect of Particle Size and of Added Alumina

Abstract
Intratracheal injn. of asbestos dust with and without alumina was carried out in a homogeneous group of 150 young rats. Short fiber (2.5u) asbestos caused only a moderate peribronchial fibrosis; long fiber (15u) asbestos caused a well-marked interstitial fibrosis resembling that seen in human disease. Alumina had no ameliorating effect as shown in silocosis expts., but, in fact, seemed to increase the degree of fibrosis.