Scanning electron microscopical investigations on the respiratory epithelium of the Syrian golden hamster. IV. In vitro effects of dimethylsulphoxide and benzo(a)pyrene.

The biological effects of in vitro exposure of cultured fetal hamster tracheal epithelium to benzo(a)pyrene in 0.5% dimethylsulphoxide (BaP: 5 and 10 micrograms/ml medium) were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The solvent, DMSO, alone induced a slight, temporary retardation in development and differentiation of cilia. At day 28 of culture, however, differences in growth and maturity disappeared between DMSO-exposed and untreated explants. No dose-related differences found in the surface morphology of alterations were seen in BaP-treated tracheae; the explants revealed metaplastic foci and reduced, incomplete ciliogenesis compared to DMSO- and non-treated controls. Towards the end of the culture period, ciliogenesis tended slowly to replace epithelial alterations.