Accession Number:

AD0852796

Title:

The Granular Pneumonocyte: Absence of Phagocytic Activity

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

FORT DETRICK FREDERICK MD

Personal Author(s):

• Faulkner, Charles S., II
• Esterly, John R.

Report Date:

1969-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

14.0

Abstract:

Pulmonary phagocytosis has interested many investigators, but relatively few have used ultrastructural techniques for precise identification of pulmonary cells. The objective of this experiment was to determine the characteristics and variation in appearance of phagocytic cells under normal conditions and to observe the relationship between ingested particles and other cytoplasmic inclusions. A solution of India ink and polystyrene spheres was injected into the trachea of adult New Zealand rabbits. The animals were sacrificed after 45 to 60 minutes and specimens were obtained for light and electron microscopy. The particles were easily recognized in the airspaces, both free and in the cytoplasm of alveolar macrophages and occasional polymorphonuclear cells. Particles were often adjacent to granular or membranous pneumonocytes, but in no instance was ink or plastic identified within these epithelial cells, nor were particles found in interstitial or intravascular spaces.

Descriptors:

• *LUNG
• ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
• PARTICLES
• VISUAL INSPECTION
• CELLS(BIOLOGY)
• LEUKOCYTES
• HISTOLOGY
• CELL STRUCTURE
• RABBITS
• RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
• PHAGOCYTES
• BIOLOGICAL STAINS
• MORPHOLOGY(BIOLOGY)

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Microbiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE