FIG. 1.

(a) General preparation of New Zealand white rabbits. (b) Baseline endoscope OCT imaging taken in the animal operating room. (c) Experimental setup for chlorine exposure of the intubated subject. A mechanical ventilator provides negative pressure to the chamber, and the chamber acts as “iron lungs.” Chlorine gas enters the circuit as the regulator is turned on. There should be no increase in pressure in the breathing circuit when the chlorine is introduced. A pressure gauge is placed in the circuit to make sure airway pressure stays in the normal range. A sodium carbonate solution was used to absorb and deactivate additional chlorine gas.