THE EFFECT OF 2 BETA(2) ADRENERGIC AGONISTS ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE AIRWAY EPITHELIUM IN RABBITS

The ultrastructure of the rabbit tracheal epithelium was studied 30 mi n after intratracheal administration of Ventolin (0.2 mg of salbutamol ) and Berotec (0.4 mg of fenoterolhydrobromide), respectively. The inj ury to the tracheal epithelium due to the treatment with two puffs of Ventolin was considered moderate to severe and morphological signs of impaired self-cleaning ability were encountered. After administration of a similar dose of Berotec, only a mild damage to this epithelium wa s revealed. Marked differences exist in the degree of damage to the ai rway epithelium due to the administration of two drugs that belong to the same family of the selective beta(2) adrenergic agonists.