MURINE INFLUENZAL TRACHEITIS - MODEL FOR THE STUDY OF INFLUENZA AND TRACHEAL EPITHELIAL REPAIR

Abstract

The murine model of influenza virus infection is generally a lethal pneumonitis produced by a highly mouse-adapted virus. Mice were infected with a less adapted virus and produced a non-lethal disease that involved the airways without producing gross pneumonitis. Changes that occurred in the tracheal epithelium were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Complete desquamation of the epithelium occurred within 3 days after infection, regeneration began within 5 days and repiar was complete within 2 wk after infection. This model may be an alternative to the letal pneumonitis for the study of murine influenza and a model for the study of repair of the respiratory ciliated epithelium.