Study of the Excretion Mechanism of a Perfluorochemical Emulsion

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Abstract
The excretion mechanism of perfluorochemicals (PFC) via the lung has been studied by physicochemical and histochemical methods. Monocytes that had phagocytized PFC particles were found in the lung capillaries, and alveolar macrophages that had phagocytized PFC particles were found in the alveoli. Vacuolated macrophages were observed microscopically in the alveolar space of rats injected with PFC emulsions. The PFC content in alveolar macrophages reached a maximum level of 1.44mg/1 times 108 cells 72 h after injection. It was confirmed by means of a wavelength dispersive x‐ray analyzer that fluorine atoms were present in the vacuolated alveolar macrophages. The peroxidase activity of the PFC‐phagocytizing macrophages suggest that monocytes phagocytize PFC particles in the circulation and migrate to the alveolar space. This study shows that the monocyte/macrophage system is related to one mechanism for excretion of PFC after intravenous injection of PFC emulsions.