Abstract
Pathogenesis of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) -induced lung injury was cytochemically investigated. The neutrophil number of lung lavage cells in PMA-intravenously injected rabbits significantly increased, whereas no change was demonstrated in the absolute number of alveolar macrophages (AM) . Active oxygen (AO) -producing neutrophils and AM in lung lavages increased in number after the PMA-treatment. Neutrophils showed stronger AO-generating potency than AM. These results suggest that AO derived from activated neutrophils, but not AM, causes the PMA-induced lung injury.
