title: Sex-Related Differences in Pulmonary Function following 6 Months of Cigarette Exposure: Implications for Sexual Dimorphism in Mild COPD.
abstract: Female smokers have increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with male smokers who have a similar history of cigarette smoke exposure. We have shown previously that chronic smoke exposure for 6 months leads to increased airway wall remodeling in female C57BL/6 mice compared with male C57BL/6 mice. These differences, however, were not evident in female ovariectomized mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Herein, we report on the pulmonary function test results from the flexiVent system, which was used to determine the potential functional consequences of the histologic changes observed in these mice. We found that tissue damping (G) was increased in female compared to male or ovariectomized female mice after smoke exposure. At low oscillating frequencies, complex input resistance (Zrs) and impedance (Xrs) of the respiratory system was increased and decreased, respectively, in female but not in male or ovariectomized female mice after smoke exposure. Quasistatic pressure-volume curves revealed a reduction in inspiratory capacity in female mice but not in male or ovariectomized female mice after smoke exposure. The remaining lung function measurements including quasistatic compliance were similar amongst all groups. This is the first study characterizing a sexual dimorphism in respiratory functional properties in a mouse model of COPD. These findings demonstrate that increased airway remodeling in female mice following chronic smoke exposure is associated with increased tissue resistance in the peripheral airways. These data may explain the importance of female sex hormones and the increased risk of airway disease in female smokers.
authors: Department of Medicine, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (St. Paul's Hospital), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Tam
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America.
authors: Jason H T
authors: JH
authors: Bates
authors: Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Churg
authors: Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Joanne L
authors: JL
authors: Wright
authors: Department of Medicine, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (St. Paul's Hospital), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: S F Paul
authors: SF
authors: Man
authors: Department of Medicine, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (St. Paul's Hospital), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Don D
authors: DD
authors: Sin
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010052:Ovariectomy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution