Pulmonary response of mice to fiberglass: Cytokinetic and biochemical studies

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Abstract
It has been suggested that glass fibers in the respirable size range may pose a health hazard similar to asbestos because of the similarities in physical characteristics. To compare the pulmonary cell response with that described earlier with crocidolite asbestos, we administered a milled fiberglass sample to mice by intratracheal instillation. Little effect was seen at a dose of 0.1 mg, but at 1 mg there was epithelial injury and an inflammatory cell response concentrated at bronchiolar‐alveolar duct regions. Cellular incorporation of tritiated thymi‐dine showed that repair of both bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium occurred rapidly. This was followed by an extended increase in cell labeling, particularly in peribronchiolar fibroblasts, from 2 to 8 wk alter fiber instillation. Cranulomas formed at this site and later there was morphologic evidence of fibrosis, which was confirmed biochemically by a significant increase in lung collagen at 4–16 wk. Although 10 times higher dose is required, the results show that the lung response to fiberglass in this experimental system is similar to that described previously for crocidolite asbestos; the sites of cell injury and repair are the same, and the subsequent fibrotic response produces small airway disease.