| Abstrakt: |
A new technique was developed to study the regeneration of respiratory epithelium in situ. The restoration of the epithelium of mechanically denuded chicken tracheas was characterized by measurements of ciliary particle transport activity and by counting ciliated cells, mucous cells and mucous glands. Results show that although more than 90% of the epithelial cells were destroyed as a result of the mechanical denudation process, most of the restoration of ciliary function and regeneration of the epithelium in the chicken occurred by 14 days. Complete restoration of the epithelium to the predenudation condition occurred before 29 days. This method, we believe, will be of value in studying the effects of potentially toxic or beneficial agents in the form of dusts, gases, aerosols and drugs on replacement of respiratory epithelium. In addition, the impairment of pulmonary clearance, together with the presence of large numbers of cells in an active phase of cellular division, may provide a milieu for the study of carcinogenesis induced or influenced by airborne chemical agents. |
