Effects of inhalation of 0. 25-ppm ozone on the terminal bronchioles of juvenile and adult rats

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7070180

Barry, B E; Mercer, R R; Miller, F J; Crapo, J D

Cells of the terminal bronchioles are particularly susceptible to the effects of inhalation of low levels of O/sub 3/. One-day-old (juvenile) or 6 week old (adult) rats were exposed to 0.25 ppm O/sub 3/ 12 hours/day for 6 weeks. Morphometric analysis of perpendicular cross sections of terminal bronchioles demonstrated that exposure to O/sub 3/ produced alterations in the surface characteristics of ciliated and non-ciliated (Clara) cells in both groups of rats. There were significant losses (20-30%) of the surface area contributed by cilia and the luminal surface of Clara cells was decreased by 16% to 25%. O/sub 3/ exposure produced significant decreases in the number of brush cells per sq mm of terminal bronchiolar basement membrane. The results of the study indicate that the normal structure of terminal bronchiolar epithelial cells is significantly altered by inhalation of 0.25 ppm O/sub 3/. No statistically significant interactions between the effects of O/sub 3/ and animal age at the beginning of the exposure were found.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ., Durham, NC (USA). Dept. of Medicine
• OSTI ID: 7070180
• Report Number(s): PB-88-224365/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BRONCHI
DISEASES
INHALATION
INTAKE
LABORATORY ANIMALS
MAMMALS
OZONE
POLLUTION
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES