Abstract
Ozone is a major environmental pollutant inducing severe pulmonary damages. We have compared the effect of ozone on mice subjected to acute (1 ppm, 1 h) and chronic (1.5 ppm, 1 h, twice weekly for 6 weeks) ozone exposure. Our investigations focused on lesions of the lung tissue, inflammation and hyperreactivity using both conventional methods, and a novel digital imaging histological approach based on machine learning programs. Acute exposure caused disruption in the respiratory epithelium with leakage of protein and recruitment of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar space, leading to lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. All these parameters were also increased upon chronic exposure. Digital imaging analysis allowed to quantify accurately structural changes occurring in the bronchiolar epithelium. Acute exposure mainly induced a significant decrease of epithelium area and thickness in agreement with its desquamation. Chronic exposure caused significant increase of epithelial, bronchial and lumen areas, unlike acute exposure. Morphological changes of epithelial bronchi were accompanied by a significant increase of peribronchial collagen content under both acute and chronic exposure. However, unlike acute exposure, chronic exposure resulted in a significant increase of the area and diameter of airspaces, but a decrease in their number, all of which reflecting the presence of emphysema. In conclusion, the digital imaging approach provides reliable quantitative analysis of pulmonary structural changes which, in combination with functional approaches, allows a comprehensive analysis of the effects of ozone on lung tissue.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.