A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF A VARIETY OF PULMONAR ALVEOLAR CELLS - CELLS CONTAINING COMPLEX LIPID INCLUSIONS

Cells containing phospholipid inclusions represent a considerable contingent of the alveolar cells of the lung. Their high content in saturated phospholipids is a special feature of the metabolism of the normal lung. Morphologically they can be distinguished by their appearance; bichromate fixation followed by biochemical techniques is used for their determination. They also distinguish themselves by their abundance in oxidative enzymes, dehydrogenases and oxidases. They also contain alkaline phosphatases and non-specific esterases. The abundance of enzymes seems to indicate that they play a very active part in metabolism. The way the cells change during pathological processes although this change is difficult to definepresents an interesting problem. The cells themselves and the substances which they secrete are connected with the formation of the endo-alveolar lining. It will, however, be necessary to do more work, particularly autoradiographic and histo-enzymatic ultrastructural studies, in order to confirm and to complete these findings. © 1968 Springer-Verlag.