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1990
Conference Paper
Titel
Correlative light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy of rat lungs after short-term exposure to cadmium compounds
Abstract
Chronic environmental or workplace inhalation exposure to Cadmium (Cd) compounds may cause lung cancer. In this study the acute morphological changes in rat lungs due to short term Cd exposure were investigated by correlative light (LM), scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both, Cd0 and CdCl2 caused qualitatively and quantitatively similar changes in centroacinar regions (terminal bronchioli/alveolar ducts). Same morphological changes persisted throughout the recovery period. CdS inhalation lead to morphological alterations resembling those described for Cd0 and CdCl2. However they were much less pronounced quantitatively. In summary, short term Cd inhalation exposure in rat lungs leads to necrosis of type-I cells, massive proliferation of type-II cells, and beginning bronchiolar alveolar hyperplasia. These events might precede the later development of preneoplastic lesions.