Impaired mucociliary function following lung transplantation has been
reported in several human and animal studies. This could be a result o
f altered ciliary function or mucus properties or both. We assessed ai
rway epithelial function by means of transepithelial potential differe
nce (PD) measurements and physical analysis of mucus. Six mongrel dogs
underwent single lung autologous transplantation. Measurements were p
erformed preoperatively and 1, 2, 4, and 10 months postoperatively. At
1 and 2 months postoperatively, there was a significant fall in PD fo
r the transplanted, left mainstem bronchus only (-13.5+/-1.7 mV at 1 m
onth and -14.6+/-1.7 mV at 2 month postoperatively vs -18.6+/-2.3 mV p
reoperatively, baseline; p<0.001 for both). The PD values in the small
airways, right mainstem bronchus, and the trachea remained unchanged.
At 2 months postoperation, the mucus collection rate on the left side
was increased (p=0.03), while the mucus viscoelasticity was decreased
(p=0.04). By 4 months postoperation, all epithelial parameters had re
turned to baseline, and there was no difference in radioaerosol cleara
nce between the two lungs. The PD decrease and alterations in secretio
n rate and viscoelasticity reflect disturbed epithelial functional int
egrity at the site of anastomosis still present at 2 months postoperat
ion. Recovery of bronchial epithelial function and clearance in canine
studies of lung autotransplantation after healing of the anastomosis
area suggest that persistent impairment of lung clearance observed in
some long-term human lung transplantation survivors may be due to othe
r mechanisms such as impaired healing or epithelial function or both,
during immunosuppressive therapy. Mucociliary function in the anastomo
sis area is compromised until complete healing ensues; we speculate th
at chest physiotherapy may aid in overcoming this obstacle.