[Influence of tobacco smoking on the development of experimental pulmonary tuberculosis]

The present investigation was designed to the study, in rabbits, of morphologic and enzymatic pulmonary alterations produced by tobacco smoke and the course of tuberculosis under these conditions. The histologic examination revealed muciparous hyperplasia and pavementing metaplasia of the bronchic epithelium, accompanied by interstitial cellular reactions, reticulin, fibrilogenesis, atelectasis, emphysema and marked debility of the animals. In the animals treated with tobacco smoke the tuberculous lesions were very extensive and had an exudative-necrotic character. Under the influence of chemotherapy, applied during three months, reorganization of the lesions was reduced in comparison to the controls and an intense bacteriological activity persisted.