Alveolar epithelial cells in experimental lung emphysema. Ultrastructural analysis of cells in situ in TEM.
A study was made of ultrastructural changes in alveolar epithelial cells after a single intratracheal papain injection. The experiment was carried out on male Wistar rats, of 180-220 g body weight. The animals were sacrificed after 1, 7, 14 and 28 days that followed proteolytic enzyme administration. The study revealed that the development of emphysematous changes in the rat lungs was accompanied by alterations in the epithelium of alveoli. In early stages of emphysema (up to 1 week), destructing changes dominated within the epithelial cells. Similar changes were observed in the endothelium of adjacent blood vessels. In later periods an increased number of type II pneumocytes were seen and focal accumulation of elastic and collagenic fibres was noticed in alveolar septa. Correlation was found between changes in the number of type II cells and their ultrastructure as well as between alveolar epithelium damage and alveolar septal interstitium alterations.
Sulkowski
S
S
Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical Academy, Białystok, Poland.
Nowak
H F
HF
Szynaka
B
B
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010206:Papain; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D010206:Papain