The effect of carbon monoxide exposure on morphology of lungs and pulmonary arteries in rabbits

Rabbits were continously exposed either to 200 parts per million carbon monoxide for 3, 4, and 6 weeks or to 1,900 parts per million carbon monoxide for 5 h. Blind light and transmission electron microscopic investigations showed no morphological changes in the lung parenchyma, lung vasculature or in pulmonary arteries of the exposed animals when compared with controls. The discrepancies with findings previously reported by other authors are discussed.This work was supported by Forschungsgesellschaft Rauchen und Gesundheit, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany