HEMATOLOGICAL, BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL, AND CYTOLOGICAL BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE STUDIES IN PREPUBERTAL GILTS AFTER ENDOTOXIN INHALATION AND INGESTION

The effect of oral intake of endotoxin (ET) combined with inhalation o f ET-contaminated feed-dust was studied in 6 prepubertal gilts. The an imals were given 100 mg of ET each in their ordinary feed ration and m eanwhile stayed for 4 h in a continuous flow exposure chamber where th e endotoxin concentration was approximately 9 mug/m3. Blood samples we re collected during the exposure and for 8 h afterwards. Bronchoalveol ar lavage (BAL) was performed 24-26 h after the exposure. Six addition al animals received ordinary feed and were exposed to feed-dust withou t added ET. Blood samples were analysed for total white blood cell cou nt (B-WBC) and differential count: polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuc lear (MN); total red blood cell count (B-RBC); platelets (B-PLT); tota l serum bile acids (S-BA); glutamate dehydrogenase (S-GLDH); and a blo od plasma prostaglandin F2alpha metabolite (15-ketodihydro-PGF2alpha; P-PG). The major findings were decreased numbers of MN, PMN and B-RBC 3 to 6 h after the start of the ET exposure and increased numbers of n eutrophilic granulocytes in the BAL fluid of the ET-exposed animals. I t is concluded that a combined oral and airborne ET challenge induces hematological and cytological changes that may contribute to the devel opment of respiratory disorders.