title: Ultrastructure of bronchial submucosal glands in children with chronic respiratory diseases.
abstract: The ultrastructure of bronchial submucosal glands in 4 children with chronic respiratory diseases was studied. Based on their ultrastructure the glandular secretory cells were divided into four categories: 1. mucous cells packed with large electron-lucent coalescing granules with fibrogranular matrix, 2. mucous-like cells with abundant granular endoplasmic reticulum and fewer smaller electron-lucent granules, 3. serous cells containing small to moderately large membrane-bound electron-dense granules with homogenous matrix and prominent granular endoplasmic reticulum, 4. sero-mucous cells similar to the serous ones but containing granules of either serous or mucous morphology. In our patients the mucous and mucous-like cells prevailed, forming 54.6%-100% of the glands' secretory area. Only in 2 children all four types of secretory cells were detected. Signs of pathological alteration were discovered in secretory cells of all patients. The system of intra- and interlobular ducts was lined by tall mucous cells.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Konrádová
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001980:Bronchi / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000473:pathology*