Summary
The granular pneumocytes, one of the main cellular types of the lung epithelium, are characterized by the presence of large osmiophilic lamellar inclusions. The appearance and origin of these inclusions has been studied in the epithelium of chick embryonic lung at different developmental stages.
Lamellar inclusions are first seen in the lung of 16 day old embryos. At this stage, few concentric lamellae surround a large amorphous center; the periphery of the inclusions always contains small granular structures. In the following days, the number of cells containing these lamellar inclusions increases rapidly, while their lamellae progressively become more numerous. In 19 day old embryos, the lamellar inclusions are similar to those in the lungs of adult animals.
From the earliest formation of the bronchial primordia, their epithelial cells contain a number of typical “granular” inclusions. These organelles are characterized by a granular center, enclosed in a membranous system. This structure becomes more complex as the embryo develops; in the 16 day old embryo, the multilayered membranous system coils around the granular center. At the time when lamellar inclusions first appear, granular inclusions increase rapidly in number and are often found in close association with lipidic vacuoles.
The relationships between lamellar inclusions, granular inclusions and lipidic vacuoles are discussed. The evidence suggests that a lamellar inclusion arises from the cooperation of several granular inclusions and a lipidic vacuole.
Résumé
Les pneumocytes granuleux, qui constituent l'un des principaux types cellulaires de l'épithélium pulmonaire, sont caractérisés par la présence de volumineuses inclusions osmiophiles lamellaires.
Nous avons étudié l'apparition et l'origine de ces inclusions dans l'épithélium du poumon embryonnaire de Poulet, en l'examinant à différents stades du développement.
Les premières inclusions lamellaires apparaissent dans le poumon de l'embryon de 16 jours. A ce stade, quelques lamelles concentriques entourent une zône centrale amorphe étendue; la périphérie des inclusions contient toujours de petites structures granulaires. Les jours suivants le nombre de cellules contenant des inclusions lamellaires augmente rapidement; en même temps, les lamelles deviennent plus nombreuses. A 19 jours, les inclusions lamellaires ont un aspect semblable à celui qu'elles ont dans les poumons d'animaux adultes.
Dès l'apparition des ébauches pulmonaires, à 2 1/2 jours d'incubation, les cellules épithéliales contiennent des inclusions typiques: les inclusions granulaires. Ces organites sont caractérisés par un centre granulaire, qu'entouré un système membranaire. Ce système, simple chez le jeune embryon, évolue ensuite en se compliquant; chez l'embryon de 16 jours, il s'enroule en plusieurs couches autour de la masse centrale. Au moment où les premières inclusions lamellaires apparaissent, le nombre des inclusions granulaires augmente rapidement; on les trouve souvent étroitement associées à des vacuoles lipidiques.
L'analyse des relations entre inclusions lamellaires, inclusions granulaires et vacuoles lipidiques suggère que l'inclusion lamellaire résulte de la collaboration entre une vacuole lipidique et plusieurs inclusions granulaires.
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Dameron, F., Marin, L. Mode de formation des inclusions lamellaires dans le poumon embryonnaire de poulet. Z. Zellforsch. 110, 72–84 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343986
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343986