title: Lung morphology and growth of rats exposed to tobacco smoke and alcohol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the morphological effects of chronic exposure to tobacco smoke inhalation and alcohol consumption on the lungs and on the growth of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, tobacco, alcohol, tobacco + alcohol, for a period of study 260 days. Morphological analysis was conducted by optical and electron microscopy. Rat growth was investigated by measuring the snout-anus length, body mass index and body weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups exposed to the drugs presented lower growth and lower weight than the control group. The percentages of alveolitis, bronchiolitis and the mean alveolar diameter were greater, particularly in the groups exposed to tobacco smoke, but were not significantly different from the control group. Electron microscopy revealed more intense apoptotic and degenerative lesions in the smoking group, while degenerative lesions in the lamellar bodies were more intense with the association of both drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This experimental model showed morphological alterations observed by electron microscopy, principally due to tobacco smoke exposure. Alcohol and tobacco hindered the growth of rats, such that tobacco showed a greater effect on body length and alcohol on body weight.
authors.affiliation: Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karla Luciana
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: Daniele Cristina
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cataneo
authors.forename: Vera Luiza
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Capelozzi
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Defaveri
authors.forename: Erica Nishida
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Hasimoto
authors.forename: Antônio José Maria
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cataneo
mesh_terms: D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats / Q000254:growth & development; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution