[Morphological changes in the respiratory tract of guinea pigs exposed to kerosene aerosol].

It's well known that there exists a high correlation between daily usage of Kerosene and the appearance of dyspnea in healthy humans and in asthmatic patients. Our aim is to study the histological alterations of the respiratory tract of guinea pigs submitted to Kerosene aerosol. It was administered to male guinea pigs fifteen minutes daily for a month. Fragments of trachea and lungs were processed for histological studies. Erosion of tracheal epithelium and inflammatory infiltration were observed. Lungs presented with thickening of the interalveolar septa. The eosinophilic infiltration may represent an immunological response resembling reactions of immediate hypersensitivity. The morphological alterations may be induced by toxic products of Kerosene such as sulphur impurities that act as mucosal irritants which damage defense mechanisms of the organism.