Histochemical evidence for generation of active oxygen species on the apical surface of cigarette-smoke-exposed tracheal explants.

Cigarette smoke is known to contain many types of free radicals, and solutions of smoke tar have been shown to liberate hydrogen peroxide as well as superoxide radical. To further investigate the relationship of smoke exposure and generation of active oxygen species, the authors exposed rat tracheal explants to varying amounts of smoke for 10 minutes in a humidified chamber. After smoke exposure was completed, tracheal segments were incubated …