title: An ultrastructural study of pulmonary bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium in sheep.
abstract: The cellular population lining the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium of the lower respiratory tract of three clinically healthy, purebred Suffolk lambs of both sexes and 3-4 months old was studied using a transmission-electron microscope. The epithelium of primary and secondary bronchioles consisted of four cell types: basal cells, intermediate cells, ciliated cells, and non-ciliated (Clara) cells, whereas the epithelium of terminal and respiratory bronchioles consisted of only two kind of cells: ciliated and Clara cells. The alveolar wall, including alveolar ducts and saccules, was covered by type I and type II pneumocytes. In addition, the presence of pulmonary intravascular macrophages was a constant in most of the alveolar capillaries. The morphologic characteristics of all these cells are described in detail and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouljihad
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Leipold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology*