Abstract
Inhalation of aerosol of mineral water is frequently used in therapy of various respiratory disorders. Ultrastructure of the airway epithelium in rabbits and character of glycoconjugates produced by secretory cells were studied immediately and 24 h after 10-min inhalation of this aerosol.
Goblet cells were overstimulated and the mechanism of mucus evacuation was accelerated. The exhausted goblet cells mostly took part in further secretory cycles, but the number of degenerated secretory elements gradually increased in the course of 24 h.
Cells not entirely filled with secretory granules prevailed in the epithelium. Massive differentiation of goblet cells and development of intraepithelial mucous glands were noticed.
Compared with controls, significant (alpha = 0.01) decrease in the acid sulphated glycoconjugates in the secretion of the goblet cells was accompanied by an increase of the acid sialylated ones immediately after inhalation. Twenty-four hours post exposure, significant (alpha = 0.05) decrease in total sialylated glycoconjugates was ascertained.
The ciliated cells revealed only mild pathological alteration. Significant (alpha = 0.01) decrease in number of kinocilia/mum(2) was accompanied by an increase in percentage of altered cilia.
During 24 h post exposure, signs of ciliary border regeneration were noticed. Morphological signs of impaired self-cleaning ability of the airway epithelium were encountered during the whole experiment.
Single 10-min inhalation of mineral water aerosol caused changes in the ultrastructure of the airway epithelium and influenced the chemical composition of the goblet cells' secretion. These changes did not disappear completely during 24 h post exposure.