Comparison of in vivo and in vitro lavage of Syrian hamsters for removal of inhaled 137Cs in fused aluminosilicate particles

Syrian hamsters were subjected to a single lung lavage 17-22 days after inhalation of a relatively insoluble aerosol of 137Cs in fused aluminosilicate particles. Lung lavage was performed either in the living animal or after the lungs were removed from the thoracic cavity. In the latter case, various wash volumes and numbers of washes were used, and, in some animals, the vascular system of the lung was perfused with isotonic saline prior to lavage. Recovered fluid was analyzed for 137Cs and cell numbers. Removal of activity decreased with vascular perfusion and with larger wash volumes, and increased with increased numbers of washes. A lung lavage of four washes of the excised lung removed a mean of 18% of the lung burden whereas a lavage of eight washes removed 38% and 16 washes removed 52%. No correlation between number of macrophages and activity removed could be established