Biochemical changes caused by asbestos dust in the lungs of rats

The contents of collagen, hexosamine, phospholipids, and cholesterol and the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases, glutamic oxalo-acetate transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transminase, aldolase, hexokinase, and lactic dehydrogenase were determined in the lungs of rats 150 days after the intratracheal injection of amosite, anthophyllite, and chyrsotile. Anthophyllite did not cause any significant change, while amosite and chrysotile caused significant increases in the contents of collagen and mucopolysaccharides. Lactic dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities were increased by all the dusts, while the othe enzymes were not seriously affected. The biochemical significance of the findings in relation to abestosis was discussed.