Cell Size of Alveolar Macrophages: An Interspecies Comparison

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives 1997-09, Vol.105 (suppl 5), p.1261-1263
• Main Authors: Krombach, Fritz, Münzing, Silvia, Allmeling, Anne-Marie, Gerlach, J. Tilman, Behr, Jürgen, Dörger, Martina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alveolar macrophages; Animals; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Cell Size; Cricetinae; Female; Flow Cytometry; Hamsters; Humans; Lungs; Macaca fascicularis; Macrophages, Alveolar - drug effects; Macrophages, Alveolar - ultrastructure; Male; Mesocricetus; Models/Mechanisms; Monkeys; Primates; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Rodents; Species differences; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.97105s51261

Alveolar macrophages (AM) play a critical role in the removal of inhaled particles or fibers from the lung. Species differences in AM size may affect the number and size range of particles/fibers that can be actually phagocytized and cleared by AM. The purpose of this study was to compare the cell size of rat, hamster, monkey, and human AM by selective flow cytometric analysis of cell volume. Resident AM from CD rats, Syrian golden hamsters, cynomolgus monkeys, and nonsmoking, healthy human volunteers were harvested by standard bronchoalveolar lavage procedures. Morphometric analysis of AM was performed using a flow cytometer that generates volume signals based on the Coulter-type measurement of electrical resistance. We found that hamster and rat AM had diameters of 13.6 ± 0.4 μm (n = 8) and 13.1 ± 0.2 μm (n = 12), respectively. Comparatively, the AM from monkeys (15.3 ± 0.5 μm, n = 7) and human volunteers (21.2 ± 0.3 μm, n = 10) were larger than those from rats and hamsters. The AM from humans were significantly larger (p < 0.05) than those from all other species studied, corresponding to a 4-fold larger cell, volume of human AM (4990± 174 μ m3) compared to hamster (1328± 123 μ m3) and rat (1166± 42 μ m3) AM. In summary, we have found marked species differences in the cell size of AM. We suggest that the number and size range of particles/fibers that can be phagocytized and cleared by AM may differ among species due to inherent or acquired species differences in AM cell size.