Evaluation of changes in airway ciliary structure in COPD model rats induced by cigarette smoke

Objective The effects of cigarette smoke exposure on airway ciliary structure in COPD rats were evaluated by the comprehensive evaluation of airway cilia ultrastructure. Methods Wister rats were randomly divided into two experimental groups (CON: control group, n=5; CS: cigarette smoke group, n=5). Rats in CS group were exposed to passive smoking for 45 days.The abnormalities of ciliary ultra-structures and the fluorescence intensity of ciliated microtubules were measured by electron microscopy (EM) and confocal microscopy. Results The ciliary ultrastructure abnormalities were found in CS group with typical cilia membrane vesiculation and dynein arm deficiency under EM.The vesiculation in CS group significantly increased (7.36±2.38) compared with CON group (0.66±1.21). Meanwhile, the microtubule of cilia in CS group decreased, with immune fluorescence intensity was (53.46±13.28), compared to CON group (120.00±26.86)(P<0.05). Conclusions Cigarette smoking could affect the ciliated epithelium in smoking induced airway rats model, with ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities and absence of cilia microtubules. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cilia; Microtubule; Ciliary ultrastructure; Cigarette smoke