Title:
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The effect of tobacco smoke on renewal mechanisms in airway epithelium and changes induced by N-acetylcysteine
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Hypersecretion is a feature of chronic bronchitis and other airway
diseases, often with ensuing complications of infection, failure to
clear secretions, airflow obstruction and progressive disability
leading to premature death. The histological counterpart is an increase
in mucus-secreting tissues ie. hyperplasia of mucous cells in the
surface epithelium and hypertrophy of submucosal glands. The former
change, associated with an extension of mucous cells into peripheral
airways from which mucus is difficult to clear by cough, is of
particular functional significance. In the studies presented herein the
laboratory rat, free of respiratory infection, has been used to study
the pathogenesis of epithelial mucous cell hyperplasia induced by 2
weeks exposure to an atmosphere of tobacco smoke (TS).
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