An autoradiographic assessment of epithelial cell proliferation and post-natal maturation of the tracheal epithelium in infant ferrets

Abstract

The tracheal epithelium of infant ferrets undergoes rapid postnatal maturation over the first month of life to achieve the pseudostratified columnar configuration characteristic of the large airways of other mammals. We have used in vivo pulsing with tritiated thymidine (3 HT) to elicit autoradiographic labeling of cells synthesizing nucleic acids in order to characterize more fully the contribution to development of different cell types comprising the nascent epithelial layer during this period of rapid growth. These studies indicate that two distinct populations of epithelial cells possess proliferative potential and contribute to the establishment of the mature adult epithelial layer. These investigations further confirm the mitotic potential of basal cells during a period of rapid postnatal growth and development of the tracheal epithelial layer. These studies also document the contribution to early airway development by non-ciliated cells, which predominate on the luminal border of the ferret trachea at birth. The temporal and histologic patterns of airway epithelial maturation during post-natal life in the ferret as contained in this study exhibit similarities to those which occur with recovery from injury by infection and irritant exposure in mature airways. Thus, the characterization of epithelial cell compartments having proliferative potential may provide insights into the mechanisms whereby normal airway epithelial organization is established and maintained during development as well as the possible recapitulation of these mechanisms during times of epithelial regeneration following injury.

The pro‐apoptotic protein Par‐4 facilitates vascular contractility by cytoskeletal targeting of ZIPK

“…Male ferrets (Mustela putorius furo, Marshall Farms, North Rose, NY) were killed by an overdose of chloroform, and tissues were prepared as previously described [12,13]. Ferret tissues were used in this study because of the increased similarity of ferret proteins and physiological functions to the human relative to rodents [14][15][16].…”

Pneumonia due to Mycobacterium abscessus in two domestic ferrets (Mustelo putorius furo)

“…The development of the ferret lung is unusual in that the epithelium is still developing when the ferret is born and undergoes significant differentiation over the first 4 weeks post partum. 34 The significance of this with respect to disease is unknown but there is potential for increased susceptibility to chronic infections during this developmental phase because normal ciliary function is absent. Perhaps the length and rigidity of the ferret trachea also contribute to the development of pulmonary disease in ferrets.…”