ABSTRACT
Animal models of radiation-induced lung injury are relevant to three distinct human populations: thoracic radiotherapy patients, radiation workers exposed occupationally or accidentally, and victims of atomic weapons exposures. Many animal models are directed toward a more complete understanding of the mechanisms, early indicators, and possible modification of radiation pneumotoxicity in cancer patients. Considerable gains can be made simply by applying the techniques developed and information obtained in other models of pulmonary injury to the radiation model. The techniques except whole-body irradiation require some degree of shielding with an attendant increase in the complexity of the dosimetry. Hyperplasia and desquammation of atypical type II epithelial cells becomes prominent and an acute inflammatory reaction with secondary infection may develop. Alveolar macrophages also react to radiation in vitro, with a dose-dependent loss of colony-forming ability in the small subpopulation of these cells with proliferative capability.
