Ultrastructural Effects Of Air Pollution on Lung Cells

Abstract

The lungs of exposed mice taken during 2- to 3-hour heavy smog periods (over 0.4 ppm total oxidants) showed various degrees of cytoplasmic damage in the alveolar epithelial cells. The extent of damage was markedly age-dependent. Alveolar wall cells taken during heavy smog from 5-month-old animals contained slightly more lamellar inclusion bodies than corresponding animals kept in clean air. The cytoplasm of alveolar cells of 9-month-old animals sacrificed during heavy smog was severely disorganized; however, animals of this age showed a marked recovery 14 hours following the smog peak. In a group of older mice (21 months), similar cytoplasmic damage was obvious, and those sacrificed 24 hours after the heavy smog peak showed even more cellular disruption, suggesting irreversible damage in the older animals. The effect of synthetic photochemical smog showed a pattern of ultrastructural alterations similar to that of the heavy natural smog. Some permanent changes occurred in alveolar cells of 15-month-old mice. Partial recovery of lining cells took place, but few wall cells and phagocytes remained. If older lung tissue has relatively fewer wall cells as is indicated, recovery is decreased to the point of permanent damage. Coupled with extensive disruption of lining membranes, exposures of this nature may well cause the death of older animals.