This investigation is to determine whether the surface complexation of iron influence acute pulmonary responses induced by silica. For this study, three varieties of cation complexed silica were used: silica-H⁢, -Zn2⁢, and -Fe3⁢, since the first two are not active in the transport of electrons and generate little free radicals relative to the dust with the surface iron. Rats (270 to 280 g) were intratracheally (IT) instilled with saline, silica-H⁢, -Zn2⁢, or -Fe3⁢(5 mg in 0.5 ml saline). After 4 h, cell number, type, and differentiation were analysed in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells, and the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total protein were determined in the lavage fluid. In addition, bronchoalveolar lavage cells were cultured, and nitric oxide production was measured using nitrate assay. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells was also determined by northern blot analysis. Differential counts of the lavage cells showed that red blood cells were increased by 9-, 8-, and 13-fold and total leukocytes (lymphocytes plus polymorphonuclear neutrophils) by 48-, 36-, and 33-fold, following IT silica- H⁢, -Zn2⁢, and -Fe3⁢, respectively compared with the saline group. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in red blood cells and total leukocytes among any of the cation complexed silica groups. The levels of LDH and total protein in the lavage fluid were significantly increased by 3- to 4-fold. However, compared among these silica groups, Fe3⁢ complexation did not significantly change the LDH activity and total protein. NO production in cultured bronchoalveolar lavage cells was elevated by 2-fold, following IT any of the silica treatments compared with the saline group. Furthermore, the steady-state levels of iNOS mRNA in the lavage cells were greatly increased. There were any differences in iNOS mRNA expression among the silica-treated groups as with NO production. These findings suggest that surface complexed iron may not influence the acute pulmonary responses resulted from 4h exposure to silica.