Effect of an adrenergic agonist and a cholinergic antagonist on the airway epithelium.

The ultrastructure of the rabbit tracheal epithelium was studied 30 minutes after intratracheal administration of two puffs of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide, respectively. The injury to the tracheal epithelium due to the treatment with both bronchospasmolytic drugs was considered moderate to severe. In both experimental groups, the degree of goblet cells' stimulation did not differ significantly, the ciliated cells were less damaged compared with the goblet ones and the morphological signs of the impaired self-cleaning ability were revealed.