The effect of paraquat on the aerobic metabolism of rabbit alveolar macrophages and lung fibroblasts
Rossouw, D.J.; Engelbrecht, F.M.
South African Medical Journal 55(1): 20-23
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 424910 Document Number: 142721
The effects of paraquat on the aerobic metabolism and viability of isolated rabbit alveolar macrophages and lung fibroblasts were investigated and compared with the effects of other known inhibitors (NaF and KCN). Paraquat (2 mM), like NaF (20 mM) and KCN (5mM), decreased the viability of the macrophages far less than it did the oxygen utilization of the viable cells, and resulted in an 80% inhibition of oxygen uptake. In contrast, paraquat (1mM) induced a marked stimulation (230%) of the cyanide-insensitive respiration of alveolar macrophages. The concns. of paraquat (nmol/103 cells) which reduce macrophage metabolism to almost zero were virtually non-toxic to fibroblasts, as measured by their oxygen consumption.