Smoking cessation decreases the number of metaplastic secretory cells in the small airways of the Guinea pig.
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.
Wright
J L
JL
Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. jlwright@interchange.ubc.ca
Churg
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013997:Time Factors