Broncho‐alveolar leucocyte responses during primary and secondary <i>Nippostrongylus brasiliensis</i> infection in the rat

Summary Using broncho‐alveolar lavage, we have studied the cellular responses in the rat lung following primary and secondary infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. During the primary infection, there was a biphasic increase in total broncho‐alveolar leucocytes and in the absolute numbers of macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. The first peak occurred on days 4–6, and the second peak occurred around day 16, after infection. During the secondary infection there was an anamnestic‐like response by all cell types. These data suggest that the broncho‐alveolar leucocyte responses to infection have an immunological basis and that in addition to the alveolar macrophage, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes may play a significant role in lung resistance against migrating helminth larvae.

Broncho‐alveolar leucocyte responses during primary and secondary Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection in the rat Journal Articles