Abnormal alveolar cells in monocrotaline induced pulmonary hypertension.

Monocrotaline given to rats causes lung injury which is followed by pulmonary hypertension. A large, abnormal intraalveolar cell has been repeatedly observed. The purpose of the present study was to define the nature of the cell and to determine how it related to the lung injury. As observed by electron microscopy, the intraalveolar cell contained numerous large, dense granules, as well as lipid whorls, extensive Golgi complexes, and many small vesicles. These cells appeared to be macrophages, possibly altered by ingestion of lipid-like material which was free in the alveolar space. Enlarged type II pneumonocytes and mast cells were seen in the alveolar walls but their appearance differed from that of the free alveolar cells. The electron microscopic findings plus the presence of Fc and C3b receptors on the cells indicated they were alveolar macrophages. When the severity of pulmonary hypertension was varied by a) giving monocrotaline to rats of varying age, b) by varying the dose of monocrotaline, or c) by varying the time interval after monocrotaline administration, the number of abnormal alveolar macrophages related to the severity of the pulmonary hypertension. When we reduced the number of circulating leukocytes by whole body radiation, monocrotaline administration was followed both by accelerated pulmonary hypertension and increased numbers of abnormal alveolar macrophages. The abnormal macrophage appeared to be a marker of the monocrotaline induced pulmonary hypertension. However, neither the abnormal macrophage nor the monocrotaline injury appeared to depend on circulating leukocytes.