• Department of Respiratory Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, ChinaCorresponding Author: ZHONG Xiao-ning, E-mail: xnzhong101@ sina. com;
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Objective  To explore the ultrastructure characteristics of pulmonary arteries in smokers with normal lung function and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) . Methods  33 patients who undertook surgery for peripheral lung cancer were collected. According to smoking history and pulmonary function, the patients were divided into three groups, ie. non-smokers with normal pulmonary function ( group A, n = 10) , smokers with normal pulmonary function ( group B, n = 13) , and smokers in stable phase of COPD ( group C, n = 10) . Normal lung tissues without cancer were sampled and observed under light and electric microscope. Results  ①Compared with group A, the thickness of intimal layer of intra-acinar pulmonary muscular arteries of group B and C were significantly higher, the area of their lumen
was lower, and the proportion of their muscular arteries was higher( P  lt; 0. 01) . ②Ultrastructure of small pulmonary arteries of group A showed that intimal layer was normal, so as to endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Collagen fiber was not increased. Ultrastructure observation of group B showed that endothelial
cells were distorted, basal membrane was thick, and collagen fiber increased in vessels. Ultrastructure observation of group C showed that endothelial cells degenerated, vascular intima thickness increased, andsynthetic phenotype smooth muscle cells increased. ③ Smoking index was positively correlated with the
proportion of muscular arteries and the proportion of intimal area( r =0. 464,0. 635, P  lt;0. 05, respectively) ,and negatively correlated with the proportion of lumen area( r= - 0. 603, P  lt;0. 05) . Conclusions  Smokers with normal lung fuction and with COPD show the similar ultrastructural characterizations in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and pulmonary arterial remodeling, which related closely to smoking.

Citation: ZHANG Jianquan,CHEN Xunxun,LIANG Yi,LIANG Ying,ZHONG Xiaoning.. Ultrastructure of Pulmonary Small Arteries in Smokers with Normal Lung Function and with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2010, 9(5): 465-470. doi: Copy