Effect of location, pH, and temperature of instillate in bronchoalveolar lavage in normal volunteers.

Bronchoalveolar lavage has not been subjected to careful standardization. We examined the variables of lung lavage location and lavage fluid composition (pH and temperature) upon the percent of fluid recovered, cell count and differential, protein and pH in normal subjects. In the first part of the study, random order lavages of the right middle lobe (RML), right lower lobe (RLL), left lingula, and left lower lobe (LLL) were performed with 100-ml aliquots of normal saline (pH, 5.5) at room temperature (25 degrees C). Percent fluid recovery was greater in the RML and lingula than in the RLL (p less than 0.05). Cell count, cell differential, and protein were similar between lobes. In the second part of the study, each lobe was lavaged with 50-ml aliquots: the RML with normal saline at 37 degrees C, the RLL with normal saline buffered to a pH of 7.0 at 37 degrees C, the left lingula with normal saline at 25 degrees C, and the LLL with normal saline buffered to a pH of 7.0 at 25 degrees C. Percent fluid recovery was greater in the RML than in the lingula and greater in both the RML and lingula than in the lower lobes (p less than 0.05). Total cell count was significantly higher in the RML than in the LLL (p less than 0.05). Cell count per milliliter and protein recovered were not different between any lobe lavaged. The pH of recovered fluid was greater with buffered saline. Complications of fever and chills occurred in almost 50% of subjects in both parts of the study. Lavage location can affect fluid recovery. Alteration of lavage fluid composition did not affect cell or protein recovery. We suggest lavage of the RML to ensure larger fluid recovery and the highest total cell count.

The influence of the conventional microflora on the body temperature of the chick.

1. Deep body temperature was measured daily in germ-free and conventional chicks from 1 to 16 of age. 2. The temperature of germ-free chicks rose rapidly during the first 4 d and thereafter only slowly, whereas that of conventional birds increased gradually throughout. 3. Body temperature attained by the germ-free birds was about 0.3 degrees C higher than that of conventional birds.

Effects on germ-free and conventional quail of substituting isolated soya protein for free amino acids in a purified diet.

1. Germ-free and conventional Japanese quail reared on a diet in which the nitrogen was supplied solely in the form of free amino acids grew well, but growth was significantly better in both environments when some of the amino acids were replaced by an equivalent quantity of isolated soya protein. 2. Although the small intestine was shorter in the birds given the soya protein supplement, its weight per unit of length was greater; histological examination suggested that its circumference and wall thickness were both increased. 3. Results of a small experiment with conventional quail given the diets marked with 14C-polyethylene glycol indicated that the free amino acid diet passed through the gut more rapidly than the supplemented diet. 4. It was concluded that the growth-promoting effect of the isolated soya protein was unrelated to the activities of the gut microflora but might be due to changes in the digestive and absorptive capacities of the small intestine induced by the different physical nature of the supplemented diet.

Dietary aureomycin and the response of the fowl to stressors.

1. Conventional or gnotobiotic chicks, when injected from 1 d to 3 weeks of age with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (120IU/kg, three times weekly), showed a depressed growth rate, adrenal hypertrophy and depletion of cholesterol form the adrenal glands. 2. Feeding a diet supplemented with aureomycin (10 mg/kg) did not have any consistent ameliorating effect on the response of the stressed bird as judged by the above parameters. 3. It was found that treating germfree chicks with five daily injections of sterile milk on days 3 to 7 did not depress growth rate at any time, nor could differences in adrenal size or cholesterol stores be detected at the end of the 21-d experimental period. The responses were not modified by feeding an aureomycin-supplemented diet.