An assessment of animal models for testing the effect of photochemical oxidants on pulmonary susceptibility to bacterial infection.

Abstract

Animal models provide important information delineating the pathophysiologic lesions accounting for pollutant-induced enhancement in human susceptibility to bacterial infections. A review of studies which describe the ability of photochemical oxidants to induce these physiologic abnormalities is presented. It is concluded that: sufficient similarity exists between defense mechanisms in rodent and humans to permit use of the rodent as a surrogate; detection of pollutant-induced abnormalities in individual components of the pulmonary antibacterial system is a sensitive means of assessing potential toxicity; pollutant-induced abnormalities in individual components of the antibacterial defense systems results in diminished overall effectiveness of the system, and this in turn permits bacterial proliferation and the initiation of disease; at present these relationships are qualitative. Epidemiologic and human volunteer studies are needed to determine the likelihood of a specific pollutant exposure provoking bacterial proliferation and disease in humans.