Histopathological study of Clara cells in lungs from linoleylanilide intoxicated mice

A histopathological study was made of Clara cells in lungs from mice intoxicated by sc injections of linoleylanilide dissolved in olive oil (20% w/v) at doses of 1,000, 2,500 or 4,000 mg/kg administered at 500 mg/kg on 2, 5 or 8 occasions, respectively. Cells were evaluated for biotransformation capacity. Morphological alterations included degeneration processes in the Clara cells that correlated with the doses administered. The observed lesions were very similar to those caused by xenobiotics with pneumotoxic capacity due to their biotransformation to electrophilic intermediates. The changes observed in Clara cells under our experimental conditions may reflect the activity of reactive catabolites from oleoanilides.