A sequential broncho-alveolar washing in non-anaesthetized normal bovines: method and preliminary results

The method of lung lavage under fiberoptic control allowed collection of alveolar cells in non-anaesthetized adult cows. The median section of the diaphragmatic lobe was lavaged with five consecutive aliquots of 30 ml each. Every one was analysed separately. A mean of 25.6% of instilled fluid was recovered and this is lower than amounts obtained on isolated lungs or in anaesthetized calves (about 50%). The cellular formula of 30 samples showed 83.5% of macrophages, 6.0% of lymphocytes, 9.4% of polymorphonuclear cells, 0.5% of monocytes. Cellular viability and total cell count were similar to previously published data. All results were found to be independent of the washing sequence. This simple and well tolerated technique appeared to be a useful tool for the study of defence mechanisms of deep lung.