Perifused alveolar macrophages. A technique to study the effects of toxicants on prostaglandin release.

A technique was developed for perfusing free airway cells (FAC) obtained by guinea-pig bronchoalveolar lavage. 10 x 10(6) FAC (mostly macrophages) were placed on the filter of a Nuclepore chamber perfused with Tyrode's solution or with Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium (MEM); the effluent was collected at intervals and te release of prostaglandin E2 by the perifused cells was used as an index of the inflammatory reaction to toxicants. Zymosan, asbestos fibers and soluble toxic agents stimulated the synthesis of prostaglandins while indomethacin abolished it. Our technique of FAC perifusion allows the sequential study of biochemical events involved in macrophage defense mechanisms as well as providing a simple test for the evaluation of various toxicants.