Reduced yield of pulmonary surfactant: patterns of response following administration of chemicals to rats by inhalation.

Repeated exposure of rats to trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, gasoline vapour or to cigarette smoke is followed by significant reduction in the recovery of pulmonary surfactant, inhibition being evident as early as 5 days after commencement of treatment. The degree of reduction in surfactant recovery was dose-dependent and the kinetics of this reaction indicated the relative toxicities of the treatments. The results are discussed with reference to the use of surfactant recovery as an indicator of non-specific injury to respiratory tissue.