CHRONIC EXPERIMENTAL INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONITIS IN RABBIT

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Abstract
The effects on the lungs of chronic aerosol and i.v. antigen challenges in preimmunized and control rabbits were studied. Soluble and particulate antigens included ovalbumin, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, antigen-adsorbed latex particles, glutaraldehyde cross-linked ovalbumin and killed BCG. Despite the development of acute alveolitis in sensitized animals, chronic aerosol challenge with soluble and particulate antigens failed to produce chronic interstitial lung disease. Chronic i.v. challenge with killed BCG, but not other particulate antigens, resulted in a progressive interstitial pneumonitis. There was evidence of fibrogenesis in animals that were presensitized to tuberculin by toepad injection of complete Freund''s adjuvant. Adaptive alveolar clearance mechanisms appear to protect rabbits from chronically inhaled antigen. Pulmonary circulatory clearance of BCG results in an interstitial pneumonitis that is dependent on previous sensitization.