Acute effects of cigarette smoke inhalation on the Syrian hamster lungs.

Syrian golden hamsters were exposed to the smoke from a number of experimental cigarettes which contained differing amounts of nicotine and carbon monoxide. Pulmonary hemorrhages were induced, the number of which were clearly dependent on the nicotine content of the cigarette smoke. Electron microscopy revealed cytoplasmic swelling and ruptured cell membranes in alveolar type 1 cells and endothelial cells.