Effect of isolated protein diet on remodeling of the bronchial-alveolar-vascular microaxis of the lungs

Objective: to establish the remodeling mechanisms of the micro-axis of the bronchi-alveoli-vessels exposed to isolated protein diet. Methods: Research design - randomized experimental study, the population of sixteen Wistar rats is divided into a main and control group. The main group was subjected exclusively to a protein diet, and the control group was on standard feed for a month. On the 15th and 30th days, the animals were phased out of the experiment and a histological analysis of the lungs was carried out to detect changes in the bronchio-alveolar-vascular microaxis. Age and body mass of animals were measured and compared at the beginning of the experiment and before autopsy. The independent and paired samples t-test has been applied for statistical analysis. Results : Animals in both groups were comparable in age and body weight. Over time, the body mass increased in each group (217.5 (18.5) vs 246.2(18.2) gr., (p=0.0001) for the main group and 211.8 (10.6) vs 240.6 (11.7) gr, (p=0.0001) for the control group), but the weights of the main group did not differ from the control group (246.2 (18.2) gr vs 240.6 (11.7) gr, p=0.47). The isolated protein diet has led to an increase in collagen and elastin in the stroma surrounding the ventilation and perfusion pathway, leading to dystrophic changes not only in the organ’s stroma, but also in the bronchial walls and blood vessels of the lungs during a 30-day experiment. The above morphological changes showed significant remodeling of the microaxis of the broncho-alveolo-vascular exposome. At 15-day, only adaptive compensatory changes were observed with small differences from the control group. Conclusion: The 30-day isolated protein diet disrupts the interaction and interdependence of the functioning and structural organization of the components of the bronchial-alveolar-vascular microaxis of the lungs. Relatively 15-day results showed adaptive and compensatory changes. Our findings may serve as a basis for future major clinical trials based on exposomal factors.