Basement membrane components of bronchial epithelium in humans suffering from chronic nonspecific lung diseases

Collagen IV and laminin are important constituents of the basement membrane (BM). By use of immunocytochemistry we examined the occurrence and distribution of these two components in the BM beneath normal, mucoid and metaplastic epithelium of large bronchi in 22 adults suffering from chronic nonspecific lung diseases. Both collagen IV and laminin were expressed as a thin and continuous layer beneath the epithelium in most tissue specimens with normal epithelium. In a few specimens the layer showed interruptions with a patchy distribution of the immunoreactivity. Three patterns of distribution of BM components were found under the metaplastic epithelium. Total absence of immunoreactive collagen IV and laminin was the most common variant. Weak and scarce staining for both proteins in the BM characterized the second pattern. The third variant showed strong collagen IV immunoreactivity but lack of laminin. The BM beneath the mucoid epithelium was characterized by irregular distribution of collagen IV and laminin. We suggest that the occurrence and distributional pattern of the BM components are related to the type of overlying epithelium and connected with an altered synthesis of these components.     

Effects of bronchial secretions of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis on the motility of ciliated cells of the ciliated epithelium

It has been shown that bronchial mucus from patients with bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis can produce a ciliostatic effect when incubated with strips of frog palate mucosa. This effect can more often be found during clinical exacerbation and is supposed to be reversible. The ciliostatically active samples of bronchial mucus taken from asthmatic patients markedly inhibit reactivation glycerol models of frog's ciliated epithelium. It can therefore be suggested that the found activity acts directly on tubulin-dynein complex of the cilia. In contrast to these findings, the ciliostatically active samples of bronchial of glycerol models and therefore possibly act through some other mechanism.     

Optimization of computed tomographic studies during the diagnosis of chronic nonspecific lung diseases

A comparative study was made of computerized tomograms of 115 patients, of them 78 suffered from nonspecific chronic pulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis, bullous emphysema, spontaneous pneumothorax, and fibrosing alveolitis), and 37 patients were healthy. Of all transverse sections the most informative ones were defined, and anatomical reference points were determined for. A conclusion was made that computerized tomograms at 5 most informative levels were sufficient to diagnose changes in each of the lung segments in their diffuse affection. CT standardization was shown to have the same advantages as standardization of layins in routine tomography of the lungs, facilitating comparison over time and reducing radiation exposure of a patient.     

Ultrastructural study of bronchial epithelium in chronic respiratory diseases.

The fine structure of bronchial epithelium in thirty-six patients, thirty-one men and five women, suffering from chronic obstructive pneumonopathy or bronchial carcinoma was studied. No remarkable alterations were found with electron microscopy, in most non-smokers in contrast to the smokers who presented destruction of the epithelial cells and loss of the cilia or many pathological cilia with an abnormal microtubular configuration and irregular orientation. The severity, however, of the alterations was not related to the severity of smoking and to the presence of bronchial cancer.     

Microflora of the bronchial contents in chronic lung diseases]

The parallel bacteriological and mycological study of the contents of the bronchi in patients with various forms of chronic pneumonia provided a clearer picture of the causative agents of the disease. The composition of microflora in the bronchial contents corresponded to the severity of the process. Uncomplicated chronic pneumonia took its course with a bacterial monoculture, belonging predominantly to the family of pyogenic cocci, present in the discharges. The formation of abscesses and the development of bronchioectases proceeded of bacterial and mycotic associations. The development of malignant tumors was accompanied by the colonization of the pulmonary ways by a variety of organisms, including bacteria of the fecal flora.     

Immunocytochemical localization of serotonin-like immunoreactivities in the ciliated epithelium of the frog palatine mucosa

Immunocytochemical localization of serotonin (5-HT)-like immunoreactivities was studies in the ciliated epithelium of the frog palatine mucosa by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) method. 5-HT-like immunoreactivity was found only in the small granular vesicles (100-150 nm in diameter) and not in any mature large secretory granules or in other cell organellae in the goblet cells. No 5-HT-like immunoreactivities were found in any other epithelial and secretory cells in the palatine epithelium. It appears therefore that 5-HT-like immunoreactive granular vesicles have certain physiological effects on the ciliary movement of the ciliated cells or in the goblet cells.     

Ways of improving the effectiveness of bacteriological diagnosis and treatment of nonspecific lung diseases

Isolation, identification and drug sensitivity assay of microorganisms from pathological materials of 177 patients with nonspecific diseases of the lungs, mainly pneumonia, were performed on blood and selective "chocolate" agars by using Baktofok-MK, a new dry nutrient basis developed by the authors. Blood and "chocolate" agars based on the Hottinger's hydrolysate were used as the control media. It was shown that with the quantitative procedure for inoculating the pathological material, the experimental media based on Baktofok-MK were much more sensitive to growth properties that the control media. That made it possible to detect larger numbers of etiologically important microbial species on the blood agar and to isolate clinical strains of Hemophilus spp. from a larger number of specimens on the "chocolate" agar.     

Computed tomographic densitometry in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung diseases

The capacities of spiral computed tomography (CT) synchronized with a patient's respiration in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung diseases (COLD) were studied. Normal lung parenchymal density was clarified in different parts. The densitometric changes typical of bronchial asthma (BA) and COLD were studied in relation to the severity of an obstructive process. The differential diagnostic criteria of BA and COLD, including those at the early stage of the disease, are proposed. The optimized procedure of spiral CT synchronized with the patient's respiration is presented.     

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the bronchial mucosa in chronic inflammation

The local immunity was studied using 31 biopsy samples obtained during bronchoscopy from patients with various forms of chronic bronchitis. Attenuated IgA synthesis by plasmatic cells of bronchial mucosa lamina propria and increased LgG synthesis were established. Enhanced IgG production and penetration of various agents into bronchial mucosa lamina propria cause local immunocomplex reaction involving microcirculatory bed and resulting in perivascular sclerosis. Repeated damaging and sclerotic processes lead to disconnection of epithelial-stromal links and altered cover epithelium differentiation. The role of immunopathologic reactions in the formation of vicious circle underlying morphogenesis of chronic bronchitis is suggested.     

Innervation and cytochemistry of the neuroepithelial bodies in the ciliated epithelium of the toad lung (Bufo marinus)

Summary Neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) were identified in the lung of Bufo marinus. The characteristics of the cells and their innervation were studied with electron and fluorescence microscopy before and after close vagosympathetic denervation. The bodies consist of low columnar cells which rest on the epithelial basal lamina. The majority of the cells do not reach the lumen of the lung (basal cells); the few which do (apical cells) are bordered by microvilli and possess a single cilium. The neuroepithelial cell cytoplasm contains a variety of organelles the most characteristic of which are dense cored vesicles. Microspectrofluorometry and electron microscopic cytochemistry indicate significant quantities of 5-hydroxytryptamine in these cells. The neuroepithelial bodies could be divided into three groups on the basis of their innervation: 1) About 60% of the NEBs are innervated solely by nerve fibres containing agranular vesicles which form reciprocal synapses; 2) about 20% are innervated solely by adrenergic nerve fibres which form distinct synaptic contacts; and 3) the remaining 20% are innervated by both types of nerve fibres. It is proposed that the NEBs are receptors monitoring intrapulmonary P_{CO 2} and so leading to modulation of activity in afferent nerve fibres (type containing agranular vesicles). The presence of NEBs solely with an adrenergic (efferent) innervation poses a problem with this interpretation.     

Electron microscopy of the tracheal ciliated mucosa in rat

Summary The structure of the tracheal epithelial cells from rat has been studied by electron microscopy on approximately 200 Å thick sections with a resolution of better than 30 Å.The epithelium is found to be of a simple columnar type composed of ciliated cells, mucus producing (goblet) cells, basal cells and a fourth kind of cell, here called brush cell. A great number of non-ciliated cells has also been encountered. It has been proved that these represent goblet cells in different stages of intracellular synthesis of mucous granules. The ciliated cells have approximately 8–9 cilia per square micron and there are about 270 cilia on each cell, the calculated surface area being 33 square microns. They are covered by a 70 Å thick membrane. The ciliary filaments are arranged in a pattern of 2 separate ones in the center and a ring of 9 peripheral ones, each divided into 2 subfilaments by a wall with same thickness as the filamentous wall itself, this being 60 Å. The peripheral filaments are continuous with the basal corpuscles. The structure of the corpuscles as compared with earlier findings is discussed. A number of 0.05 micron thick and 1 micron long filiform projections emerge from the cell surface. No cuticle is present.The cell membrane facing adjacent cells is 90 Å and separated from their cell membrane by a 105 Å wide space, this space, being expanded towards a level corresponding to the proximal parts of the cell. A structure that represents terminal bar has been encountered. The cytoplasm is loose and composed of 160 Å thick granules. Spaces enclosed by 50 Å thick membranes with attached 160 Å thick granules (-cytomembranes) are rare. The Golgi zone is analyzed and its regular composition of -cytomembranes, granules and vacuoles is confirmed. The mitochondria with a mean width of 0.23 micron differ to their inner structure from the common type in that the triple layered membranes are highly interconnected. Large opaque granules are encountered in the cytoplasm. Ring-shaped, 850 Å wide, structures are present in the nuclear membrane. The goblet cells are not as abundant as the ciliated cells, the ratio being 14. Small filiform projections covered by a 95 Å thick membrane protrude from the cell surface. This membrane is continuous with the cell membrane, the latter with the same dimensions as in the ciliated cells. Terminal bars are present. The cytoplasm is very opaque due to a dense packing of the 165 Å opaque granules, many in clusters of 4–6. The -cytomembranes have the same dimensions as mentioned above for those present in the ciliated cells. The Golgi zone is of regular composition. There is a suggestion that the Golgi vacuoles and the -cytomembranes are involved in the formation of mucus. In the stage of cellular activity with but few mucous granules, there is a great number of large opaque granules, the size varying from 0.4–1 micron. The mitochondria with a mean width of 0.23 micron have an outer triple layered membrane with a total thickness of 180 Å. The central less opaque layer is 70 Å and the opaque layer on either side is 55 Å. The inner membranes are arranged parallel to each other and have a triple layered composition where the central less opaque layer is 65 Å and the opaque layers each 60 Å. The brush cells belong to the non-ciliated cells. They are encountered singly, surrounded by goblet cells. The surface structures are shaped like brushes or clumsy protrusions which emerge from the distal end of the cell, and are covered by a 95 Å thick membrane. There have been no suggestions of the brushes being cilia in a stage of growth, nor is it probable that they represent stereocilia. They most nearly resemble the intestinal brush border extensions and thus might serve as a resorbing structure.The cytoplasm of the brush cells appears of medium opacity between the ciliated cells and goblet cells and is composed of 155 Å opaque granules. The -cytomembranes are very rare. The Golgi zone is diminutive though of regular composition. The mitochondria are abundant and small with a mean width of 0.14 micron. The outer and inner membranes are triple layered with approximately the same dimensions as reported for the mitochondria of the ciliated and goblet cells. The inner membranes are very few, often only one or two are present. Some of the large opaque granules have inside a very regular arrangement of small 60 Å thick opaque granules arranged in a crystallinic pattern. In the cytoplasm 0.5–1 micron long bundles of 30–40 Å wide fibrils are encountered. The nucleolus shows a characteristic structure of concentrically arranged thin membranes. The basal cells are believed to represent lymphocytes or white blood cells. They sometimes rest on the basement membrane, sometimes are encountered in the distal part of the intercellular spaces. They are bordered by a 110 Å thick cell membrane and have a rather opaque cytoplasm characterized by 160 Å thick opaque granules. A very small Golgi zone is present. The mitochondria, the mean width being 0.14 micron, have triple layered outer and inner membranes, where the less opaque central layer is 65–70 Å and the opaque layers 45–50 Å each. The basement membrane has a thickness of 600 Å. No inner structure has been resolved. The basement membrane is separated from adjacent parts of the ciliated, goblet, brush, and basal cells by a 250 Å wide less opaque space. Below the basement membrane is the lamina propria of the trachea, which is composed of collagen and elastin fibers together with fibroblasts, white blood cells and lymphocytes. The relationship between different types of tracheal epithelial cells in rat has been analyzed. There has been found no indication of a transformation of any type of cells observed into a different type of cell. The development of basal cells via supporting cells or intermediate cells to goblet cells or ciliated cells has not been noticed. On the contrary, all cells that in light microscopy could have been considered to be supporting or intermediate cells, we have been able to recognize as brush cells or as goblet cells to a varying degree filled with mucous granules. If the cells did not seem to reach the cell surface it has been found to be due to a diagonal direction of the sectioning. In this connection it should be emphasized that this relationship is valid only in rat where it is known that the epithelium is of a simple columnar type as distinct from the conditions in man, that epithelium being of a pseudostratified columnar type.This paper is based on a report given at the meeting of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Elektronenmikroskopie in Münster, March 28–31, 1955 and at the Scandinavian Electron Microscope Society Meeting in Stockholm, May 13, 1955.