Development of bronchiolar epithelium: time course of response to oxygen and recovery

Hyperoxia (greater than 95% O2) reversibly suppresses the early postnatal development of rat bronchiolar epithelium. We now show that blunting of the normal increase in nuclear numerical density per centimeter cubed of Clara and ciliated cells becomes apparent within 24 h of exposure to O2 (age 2 days) and reaches a maximum on the last day of hyperoxia (age 7 days). The intergroup differences began to disappear within 48 h after removal from O2. During air breathing, Clara cell mitosis increased sixfold between the ages of 1 and 2 days and returned to day 1 values by age 7 days. During O2 breathing, Clara cell mitosis increased threefold between age 1 and 2 days, returned to day 1 values by day 4, but exhibited a second peak 24 h post-O2 (day 8) not present in unexposed pups. The onset of differences in the volume of Clara cell organelles and glycogen was variable, but the differences were partly or completely eliminated 48 h post-O2 exposure. We conclude hyperoxia reversibly impairs mitosis by Clara cells.