The effect of acute pressure chamber hypoxia on the surfactant system and respiratory segment structure of the lungs were studied in rats by physical, fluorescent microscopic and morphometric methods. Acute hypoxia decreases surface activity, induces changes in cellular and extracellular surfactant fluorescence and causes the development of diffuse vesicular emphysema. On the first day of adaptation atelectatic foci dominate over emphysema, and the pulmonary structure normalizes afterwards.
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