Fig. 8

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prevents secondhand smoke (SHS) effects on airway surface hydration and mucociliary transport (MCT) in mice. a. Representative μOCT images of tracheae excised from mice exposed to control room air or SHS for 6 weeks either with or without NAC added to drinking water (40 mM) are shown. Periciliary liquid (PCL) layer and air surface liquid (ASL) depths are indicated by yellow and red bars, respectively. A mucus aggregate that is large and easily noticeable is also shown by a white arrow. It is the movement of such native particles that is used to discern the rate of mucociliary transport (MCT). Summary graphs illustrate total changes in ASL depth (b), PCL depth (c) and MCT rate (d) in excised trachea from each mouse in the study. n = 7–19, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005