[Morphological changes of the cell surface during phagocytosis of asbestos fibers]

The Sandersand Shubik transparent chamber inserted in the golden hamster cheek pouch has been found a simple and easy technique to study the in vivo phagocytosis of asbestos fibers. Use of this device in a scanning and transmission electron microscopy study provided a three-dimension view of some phases of the process, of the cell-fiber relationships as well as of the modifications which occured on the cell surfaces in contact with the fibers in the chambers. The advantages presented by this experimental model over the others are discussed as well as some recent data regarding the cytotoxic effect of the asbestos fibres.