Phosgene Effects on F-Actin in Cells Grown from Pulmonary Tissues
Abstract
Confocal laser microscopy has been used to study the effects of phosgene on cells of the lung. Results suggest that the F-actin cytoskeleton is a molecular target and sensitive indicator of phosgene toxicity. Ovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells, exposed at 0.145 to 5.39 x LCT(50) for sheep (3300 ppm.min) showed dose response decreases in F-actin content. Doses of 0.145 and 0.265 LCT(50) caused a significant (p < .01) 25% and 42% decrease in average F- actin per cell. Dense peripheral bands (DPBs) became indistinct at > or = 1.2 LCT(50) and disappeared at > or = 2.3 LCT(50). Organization of stress fibers was parallel to the cell's long axis and was not disrupted by < 1.21 LCT(50). In secretory cells from rat tracheal explants, studies indicate a threshold of resistance to phosgene at doses < 0.2 LCT(50). However, phosgene in excess of 0. 2 LCT(50) produced precipitous decreases in secretory cell F-actin. Mature, contiguous populations of untreated secretory cells contained well defined DPBs and tightly connected cell-to-cell boundaries. Exposures to 1.0 and 1.5 LCT(50) did not disrupt boundaries between secretory cells but did cause separation of boundaries between secretory and other cell types. We conclude that concentration and organization are separate aspects of phosgene's effects on F- actin and that the lesions produced are cell-type specific.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADP008873
Entities
People
- J. Madren-whalley
- R. J. Werrlein
- S. D. Kirby
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense