Rabbit lung after inhalation of hexa- and trivalent chromium

Rabbits were exposed to aerosols of hexavalent (Na2CrO4) and trivalent chromium (Cr(NO3)3) at concentrations of 0.9 and 0.6 mg/m3 of chromium respectively for 4-6 weeks (5 days/week and 6 hr/day). Three of eight rabbits exposed to Cr(VI) and three of eight rabbits exposed to Cr(III) showed nodular accumulations of alveolar macrophages, similar to the lesions observed in previous experiments after exposure to Ni2+, Cd2+, or metallic nickel. Macrophages from rabbits exposed to Cr(III) usually contained round dark inclusions, large lysosomes, and laminated inclusions similar to the lamellar bodies in the type II cells, and most macrophages from rabbits exposed to Cr(VI) showed enlarged lysosomes. However, the total amount of phospholipids and the volume density of type II cells did not differ significantly between exposed rabbits and controls. Our findings indicate that the macrophages are directly affected by chromium. The accumulation of laminated structures in the alveolar macrophages after Cr(III) exposure might be due to an impaired catabolism of surfactant.