Histopathological Changes in Enlarged Thoracic Lymph Nodes during the Development of Silicosis in Rats

摘要: Silicosis is primarily a fibrotic lung disease which also affects the draining lymph nodes. In present study, we examined nodes of rats from 2 weeks to 52 after an 8-day silica aerosol exposure. Parallel typical silicotic changes in lungs, profound alterations occurred both posterior mediastinal The weight progressively increased 3.5-fold 35-fold at increase was accompanied by early T cells and preferentially CD4+ weeks, converted into B cell 6 weeks. Histologically, leukocyte influx without apparent structural noted whereas germinal centers regions were disappearing macrophages accumulated granuloma-like structures randomly scattered throughout lymphoid tissue. Within granulomas, detected that carried ingested particles signs degeneration or apoptosis. At exposure, macrophage granulomas persisted induction fibrosis nodes, now evenly distributed within These data extend our previous findings on lymphocyte activation indicate marked disorganization node may contribute immune abnormalities silicosis.