ABSTRACT
Partial "sympathectomy" in the neonatal BALB mice was achieved by the treatment with guanethidine. The number of neurons in the stellate ganglion decreased to 20% of the control values and remained constant throughout the subsequent period of 1 month. Partial "chemical sympathectomy" did not affect the postnatal growth and development of the lungs. Partial "chemical sympathectomy" significantly increased the number of secreting cells in bronchiolar and alveolar regions. Secretory activity of the alveolocyte population, type two, synthetizing and secreting surfactant also increased. It has been concluded that the partial "chemical sympathectomy" stimulated the alveolar surfactant secretion.
Subject(s)
Lung/metabolism , Sympathectomy, Chemical , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Bronchi/innervation , Bronchi/metabolism , Bronchi/ultrastructure , Epithelium/metabolism , Epithelium/ultrastructure , Guanethidine , Lung/innervation , Lung/ultrastructure , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Microscopy, Electron , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Pulmonary Alveoli/innervation , Pulmonary Alveoli/metabolism , Pulmonary Alveoli/ultrastructure , Pulmonary Surfactants/metabolismABSTRACT
Four male mice (1-month-old) of BALB strain have been studied. Three types of cells participate in formation of cellular lining of the terminal branchioles: ciliated, Clara cells and villose cells which are included in the neuroepithelial bodies composition. Clara cells are numerous and they are similar in their ultrastructural organization, they contain a great number of polymorphous secretory granules, single mitochondria and a poorly developed endoplasmic reticulum. A comparatively large number of pores of Khone are revealed: there are 4-8 pores per one alveole, and one pore is situated on 197.4 mcm2 of the alveolar surface. Alveolocytes of the second type of make the main actively secreting cell population of the alveolar passages and alveoles. Simultaneously, at the state of secretion there are 76% of the cells. The secretion of alveolar surfactant is realized by means of merocrine exocytosis. Relative volumetric fraction of mitochondria in alveolocytes of the II type comprises 12% and that of "cytophospholiposomes" (osmiophilic laminar bodies)--11%.
