Interaction of crocidolite asbestos with hamster respiratory mucosa in organ culture.

Organ cultures of hamster trachea were used to study the effects of crocidolite asbestos on the respiratroy epithelium and the uptake of asbestos by cells of the mucosa. International Union Against Cancer (U.I.C.C.) crocidolite was suspended in medium over a range of concentrations and precipitated on the epithelial surface for 1 hour. At intervals during the ensuing 4 weeks, morphologic changes were documented by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Cytotoxic alterations in differentiated mucosal cells appeared to relate to the amount of crocidolite added to the cultures. Necrosis and desquamation of surface cells were accompanied by basal cell hyperplasia. These proliferating cells phagocytosed the dust and incorporated it into lysosomes. Crocidolite was also found interposed between cells of the hyperplastic basal cell layer. Transport of asbestos particles to the submucosa and uptake by mesenchymal cells was apparent after 1 week.