Rabbit lung after combined exposure to soluble cobalt and trivalent chromium

Eight rabbits were exposed to 0.7 +/- 0.4 mg/m3 Co2+ as CoCl2 and 1.2 +/- 0.7 mg/m3 Cr3+ as Cr(NO3)3 (group Co + Cr), eight to 0.6 +/- 0.5 mg/m3 Co2+ (group Co), and eight to filtered air (control group), for 4 months, 5 days/week, and 6 hr/day. All rabbits in group Co + Cr and group Co showed nodular aggregation of alveolar epithelial type II cells. Volume density of the type II cells was significantly higher in group Co + Cr than in group Co and the control group. There was intraalveolar macrophage accumulation in seven rabbits in group Co + Cr, one in group Co, and one in the control group. In lavage fluid the numbers of macrophages and the percentage of these cells with smooth surface and intracellular surfactant-like inclusions were more increased in group Co + Cr than in group Co as were oxidative metabolic and phagocytic activities of the macrophages. Total phospholipids, phosphatidylcholines, and especially 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine was markedly increased in group Co + Cr whereas only 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine was slightly increased in group Co. One mechanism behind the high amount of surfactant phospholipids in group Co + Cr seems to be an enhanced production of surfactant by the type II cells. Another mechanism is probably that Cr3+ reduces the capacity of alveolar macrophages to catabolize surfactant. The results imply that it is important to investigate effects of combinations of cobalt and chromium in the occupational environment.