title: Mesothelial lamellar bodies in norm and experimental conditions. Transmission and scanning electron microscopic observations on the peritoneum, pleura and pericardium.
abstract: The ultrastructural characteristics of the mesothelial intracellular and extracellular lamellar bodies (LB) in norm, and especially in pathological conditions are still unknown. After routine fixation procedure, material from organs in the three serous cavities of Wistar rats, as control group were compared with animals following experimental hemothorax (EH) and experimental peritonitis (EP), using transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM). Different membrane-bound profiles, short strip-like structures and single LB characterize the control group. Five days after EH small groups of LB were observed. Single balloon-like profiles, numerous particles and larger groups of LB with wide varieties in size, form and membrane structure characterize the 8th day after EH. Thin and concentric membranes build single LB the 5th day of EP. Eight days after the same treatment, groups of LB, complex structures with several multilamellar centers, strip-like structures with rough granulo-filamentous material and uninterrupted covering over wide areas were observed. We conclude that constant components in the untreated rats are different membrane profiles, as initial lamellar formations and single typical LB with predominant intracellular position. The preferable sites for exocytosis of LB are the intercellular spaces. The present data demonstrate simultaneous findings of the two main groups of formations by using routine fixation in the control group and in the treated animals. The first represent LB as well as other round profiles, observed by TEM and particles, observed by SEM, which are widespread and probably have a basic role. The second ones are strip-like structures and its SEM-equivalents, i.e. uninterrupted covering. TEM-profiles and their SEM-images show significant organ differences and in some cases lack of correspondence between both electron microscopic techniques in the same treatment. Significant enlargement of the number of LB and the length of the strip-like structures characterize the mesothelium after pathologic conditions. LB with considerable differences in the structure and larger particles over the microvillous border predominate after EH. Strip-like profiles, continuous covering and smaller groups of LB with similar morphology and preferable submesothelial position characterize the mesothelium after EP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology, Preclinical University Center, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria. uzunoff@medfac.acad.bg
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Michailova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010994:Pleura / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents