SMOKING CESSATION DECREASES THE NUMBER OF METAPLASTIC SECRETORY CELLS IN THE SMALL AIRWAYS OF THE GUINEA PIG

Author: Wright J. L.   Churg A.  

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

ISSN: 1091-7691

Source: Inhalation Toxicology, Vol.14, Iss.11, 2002-11, pp. : 1153-1159

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Abstract

To ascertain whether cessation of smoke exposure would decrease small-airway secretory-cell metaplasia, guinea pigs were exposed to daily cigarette smoke using a nose-only exposure system for 4 and 8 mo; an additional group was exposed to smoke for 4 mo and then air recovery for 4 mo ("ex-smokers"). Numbers of secretory cells per millimeter of basement membrane were calculated for each bronchiole from measurements of histologic sections stained with Alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff, and cumulative histograms were constructed. Smoke exposure was associated with a significant increase in numbers of secretory cells at 4 mo and 8 mo, although there was no increase in numbers beyond the 4-mo exposure period. In the ex-smoking group, secretory cells were reduced compared to the 4- or 8-mo smoking group, but continued to be greater than controls. We conclude that, in a guinea pig model, smoking produces secretory-cell metaplasia in the airways and that smoking cessation allows partial recovery of normal structure.