A STUDY OF THE CILIAR TRACHEAL EPITHELIUM ON PASSERINE BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS SUBJECTED TO AIR-POLLUTION - ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

A study was made of the ciliar tracheal epithelium on passerine birds and small mammals subjected to NOx, SO2 emissions and particulates fro m a coal-fired power plant. The results were compared to those of a no n-polluted area, very similar in vegetation, relief, and climatology. We studied Carduelis carduelis (goldfinch), Emberiza cia (rock bunting ), Parus major (great tit), Turdus merula (blackbird), and Apodemus sy lvaticus (wood mouse). All animals were captured in the wild. We also used goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) captured in the wild and mice (Mu s musculus) from our laboratory. These species were placed in protecte d cages near the source of pollution for 5 and 12 months. The images o f the tracheal epithelium surface and the observation of tracheal sect ions at transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed a variati on in the percentage of ciliated and non-ciliated cells, and a variati on in the organization, orientation, and morphology of the cilia in an imals from the polluted zone.