Steady-State Load Distribution of Insoluble Particles in Alveolar Macrophages

Abstract

This paper describes an effort to derive, under steady-state conditions, the number and mass load distribution functions of the macrophage pool on the alveolar surface of a new, physiology-oriented compartmental kinetics model of alveolar retention of inhaled insoluble particles in rats. Quantitative relationships are derived and discussed with regard to the limitations of the mathematical approach. It appears that the results are compatible with existing experimental data obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of rat lungs.