MEASUREMENT OF THE EPITHELIAL BARRIER INTEGRITY IN TRACHEAL CELL-CULTURES EXPOSED TO IRRITANT COMPOUNDS

A simple method has been developed to measure epithelial barrier alter ation, in order to evaluate the irritant effect of inhaled compounds o n the respiratory tract. In vitro primary cell cultures from rabbit tr acheal epithelium were grown on permeable filters and used to study th e effect of two pollutants-acrolein and parathion-on epithelial barrie r integrity. The transepithelial potential difference and [C-14]mannit ol permeability were measured. Acrolein specifically injured the tight junctions and therefore increased transepithelial permeability. Parat hion did not produce any alteration of the epithelial barrier but the results suggest alteration of ionic transport.