We delivered 20 Gy irradiation in one fraction to a 6 cm segment of trachea in 11 dogs. Tracheal mucous transport was studied before and whenever possible at weekly intervals after irradiation using a gamma camera system and 99m technetium labeled sulfur colloid. Ten of the eleven animals were sacrificed at three different time intervals (1-2, 15-16 and 30-34 weeks) post-irradiation, and the tracheal epithelium removed for studies using Ussing chambers followed by preparation for microscopic analysis. Mucous transport along the length of the trachea was normal before irradiation, but following irradiation it became abnormal in the irradiated zone. Compared to the epithelium from the cranial and caudal segments, the irradiated epithelium had similar bioelectric measurements (potential difference, short-circuit current and resistance) and mannitol permeability. Also, the changes in the bioelectric measurements following indomethacin (10(-6) M) and epinephrine (10(-6) M) used sequentially, were similar in both the control and irradiated tissues. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the irradiated zone revealed patches of nonciliated epithelial cells among the ciliates. We conclude that irradiation caused a persistent replacement of ciliated cells with nonciliates throughout the entire study period and that this alteration impaired mucous transport but did not affect epithelial ion secretion or barrier function.