title: [Morpho-functional characteristics of the bronchiolar exocrinocytes (Clara cells) in adults].
abstract: Using the methods of immunocytochemistry, light, electron microscopy, and morphometry, localization and the structural and functional characteristics of bronchiolar exocrinocytes (Clara cells - CC) in human bronchiolar epithelium were studied during the mature age period of ontogenesis. CC were detected in both terminal and respiratory bronchioles, while their number was greater in the latter. With the increasing age within this period of human ontogenesis, the number of CC decreased. The quantitative decline of their number with age was found to depend on the duration of smoking. The smoking experience equivalent to 10 pack-years was defined as a critical one, as despite the absence of radiological manifestations of pulmonary pathology and the optimal results of the pulmonary function tests, in patients with this or greater smoking experience, the minimal fibrosis was detected, which could be demonstrated at both light and electron microscopical levels. This could be related with the decrease in CC number, since their secretory product was found to inhibit the activity of fibroblast chemotaxis.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Poliakova
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Borkina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D055745:Bronchioles / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult