Fig. 9

Correlation of secondhand smoke (SHS)-induced CFTR dysfunction to altered functional microanatomy of murine airways. Functional relationships between CFTR activity by nasal potential difference (NPD) and data obtained from μOCT image analyses regarding periciliary liquid (PCL) depth, air surface liquid (ASL) depth, and mucociliary transport (MCT) on trachea were analyzed by Pearson correlations using SPSS program. Matched data from experiments between 23 mice exposed room air (open circles) and SHS (grey squares) were included. All correlations were two tailed, 95% confidence, with confidence interval expressed lower bound and upper bound; *P = < 0.05, **P = < 0.005. a. Correlation between NPD and ASL depth had a weak positive association (r = 0.208) that was statistically insignificant (p = 0.340) b. Correlation between NPD and PCL depth demonstrated a moderate positive association (r = 0.566) that was significant (**p = < 0.005). C. Linear curve fits for NPD and MCT indicated a moderate positive association (r = 0.618) that was significant (**p = < 0.005). d. Examining MCT relationship with ASL depth revealed a moderate negative association (r = − 0.484). that was significant (*p = < 0.05). e. Correlation of MCT with PCL depth achieved a significant (*p = < 0.05) but, moderate positive association (r = 0.518). f. Association analysis between ASL and PCL depths revealed a weak negative association (r = − 0.026, p = 0.905)