Figure 1.

Inflammatory cell numbers are elevated in response to exposure to a combination of LPS and tobacco smoke (TS). Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to TS or air for 30 min twice a day for 2 days. On the morning of day 3 rats were exposed to saline of LPS (0.3 mg·mL⁻¹) for 30 min followed by TS or air 5 h later. Twenty-four hours after LPS exposure the number of (A) total cells were assessed in the BAL and the numbers of neutrophils were assessed in the (B) BAL and lung tissue using (C) tissue digests. Data are expressed as the mean and SEM of n= 8 animals per group. (D) Neutrophils were also assessed in the lung tissue by histological assessment. Representative sections from each group (8 animals per group) are shown. (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 compared with air/saline controls; ##P < 0.01 compared with TS/saline group). BAL, broncho alveolar lavage; LPS, lipopolysaccharide.