An Experimental Study of the Behavior of the Lung Alveoli Under High and Low Pressure

Abstract

The morphological change of the alveoli of the lung unber abnormal pressure was studied histipathologically from the view point of pneumatization. As experimental animal young and matured rabitts were used, and the experiments were carried out in the tank of 4 atmospheric pressure and 460mmHg pressure 2 hours daily from 4 hours to 3 months.
The histological observation revealed the small alveoli with the thickend wall and the antrum-like enlarged alveoli of vaious sizes irregulary scattered in the atelectatic area, side by side with emphysematous area.
These findings might be interpreted as reduction of pneumatization of the lung and they can be found in the high atomospheric pressure as well as in the low pressure.