Pulmonary Surfactant and Its Relationship to the Alveolar Epithelial Cell

Abstract

Osmiophilic inclusions were observed in the alveolar epithelial cells of the hog lung. In many cases, the osmiophilic inclusions appear as myelin figures. The osmiophilic inclusions bear a striking resemblance to osmiophilic material washed from hog lung in the form of bubbles. The general similarity could indicate a direct relationship between the inclusions in the alveolar epithelial cells and alveolar lining substances. In the washed bubbles, a lamellar structure was revealed which indicated a repeat unit of 95Å.