Effects of O3 on submucosal gland of bonnet monkey trachea

Abstract

In the past, ozone inhalation studies have focused on the lower airways and lung parenchyma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ozone on submucosal glands of upper airways. Six adult male bonnet monkeys were exposed to 0.64 ppm ozone continuously for 7 days, and three were exposed to chamber conditions without ozone. The animals were exsanguinated under barbiturate anesthesia. The trachea and lung were fixed by airway infusion of Karnovsky's fixative, which was adjusted to pH 7.4 and 440 milliOsmols. Sagittal sections of ventral trachea were embedded in glycol methacrylate and Araldite 502 for light and electron microscopy. One micrometer methacrylate sections were stained with Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff (AB/PAS). Selected areas of Araldite-embedded tissue were sectioned for transmission electron microscopy, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined with a Zeiss EM 10. Volume percentages of the lumen, granular and nongranular regions of fhe gland and the duct wall, respectively, were estimated by stereologic methods on AB/PAS stained sections.