Original scientific paper
Production of pulmonary emphysema in guinea pigs by intratracheal application of cadmium chloride
J. Mikšić
; Institut za farmakologiju i toksikologiju Medicinskog fakulteta, Sarajevo
Abstract
Experimental emphysema in guinea pigs has been produced with the intent to establish the pathogenetic role of the inflammatory factor in its origin. Biochemical and anatomical investigations were performed on 27 animals with artificially produced pulmonary emphysema, and on 21 normal animals serving as controls. The author established a prevalence rate of pulmonary emphysema in groups from 3.5 to 25.5%, as well as a common rate of 45%. In the sample with emphysema, as against the control group, histologic changes of a marked alveolar emphysema were revealed with all transitions of inflammation, from hyperplastic to atrophic changes in pulmonary parenchyma. In homogenates of pulmonary tissue with artificially produced pulmonary emphysema it was possible to demonstrate statistically significantly diminished values of lipoprotein lipase (p < 0,05). This was more pronounced the severer was the emphysema - 42.3 to 60.2 mg/g of tissue as against 71.7 mg/g of tissue in the controls. Lowered values of free fatty acids were also found, more moderately in milder and more intensively in severer pulmonary emphysema - 25.8 to 21.2 mg%, as against 26.9 mg% in the control group, although the values were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Diminished levels of phospholipides in the blood were found in all cases of lung emphysema - 61.33 mg%, as against 69.3 mg% in the control group, although the values were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The author could confirm the correlation between the biochemical and pathohistologic changes on one hand and the disappearing and hypoxia of pulmonary tissue in emphysema on the other. It has been established that inflammation constitutes the primary pathogenetic factor in the origin of emphysema, to be followed by obstructive hypoxic and atrophic changes in pulmonary tissue. When evaluating the effect of soluble cadmium ions which in the form of compounds come into contact with the mucosa of the respiratory system, we ought to take into account not solely their acute toxic effect but also their action as a factor of pneumoconiosis.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
168780
URI
Publication date:
18.9.1972.
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