[The activation of the oxygen-dependent bactericidal system of human and rabbit monocytes by dust with different degrees of fibrogenicity].

Phagocytosis of quartz dusts by the monocytes of man and rabbit goes together with the stimulation of the substrate-free reduction of nitroblue tetrasolium, which reflects the activation of the cells' oxygen-depending bactericidal system. The quantity of the formasan produced increases, as compared to the control group, depending on the volume of the added dust. A less fibrogenic and cytotoxic dust of aluminum oxide causes only significant formation of formasan at the reduction of nitroblue tetrasolium. No extracellular generation of superoxide radicals and nitrogen peroxide by the cells were traced in the phagocytosis of quartz dusts by human and rabbit monocytes. The data obtained reveals a close similarity of the biochemical processes in the action of alveolar macrophages and monocytes with mineral dusts, and confirms a possibility of using the substrate-free reduction of nitroblue tetrasolium in the assessment of the hazardousness of industrial dusts.