How pleural mesothelial cells react in vitro with chrysotile fibres

A culture system of rat pleural mesothelial cells has been developed for short-term experiments and long-term maintenance. In short-term experiments, endocytosis of chrysotile fibres (100 microgram/ml) has been demonstrated by electron microscopy of the pleura in situ. Structural modifications, mainly cytoplasmic vacuolization, were observed when the cells were cultured with sublethal doses of chrysotile (0.5, 1, 2 and 10 micrograms/ml). Untreated cells had a mean population doubling time of 37 hours. When the cells were treated with 2 or 10 micrograms/ml, the mean population doubling time was slightly increased.