Ozone and Structural Changes to the Lungs of Baby Monkeys
Significant lung development occurs after birth. This study in infant rhesus monkeys tested whether repeated cycles of injury and repair caused by ozone exposure lead to chronic airway disease and decreased lung function by altering normal lung maturation.
Monkeys were used because their airway structure and postnatal lung development is similar to those of humans. One month old monkeys were exposed to 0.5 ppm ozone episodically over a five month period. Compared with control monkeys, the ozone exposed animals had major differences in airway structure and morphology: four fewer nonalveolarized airway generations, hyperplasic bronchiolar epithelium, and altered smooth muscle bundle orientation in terminal and respiratory bronchioles.
Fanucchi MV, Plopper CG, Evans MJ, Hyde DM, Van Winkle LS, Gershwin LJ, Schelegle ES. Cyclic Exposure to Ozone Alters Distal Airway Development in Infant Rhesus Monkeys. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2006; 291:644-650.
For a copy of the abstract click here.
