Tantalum oxide and alveolar macrophage function.

The alveolar macrophage (AM) has been cited as a potential source for clearing tantalum from the lungs following bronchography. We studied the short term effects of tantalum oxide on rabbit AM viability and metabolism in vitro. AM phagocytosed tantalum oxide particles without cytotoxicity and with a significant rise in glucoxe oxidation. These results suggest that the AM represents an important vehicle for clearance of tantalum particles from airways in vivo.