246 



E. KIKUTH, H. W. SCHLIPKOTER UND P. SCHROETELER 



We could observe unusual corpuscules having an 

 approximatively circular section, 0.1 micron in dia- 

 meter, limited by a dark simple line; they contained 

 a cytoplasmic material identical with the ground 

 cytoplasma of the cell and images of spheres or tube 

 sections having from 250 to 750 A. These structures 

 are closely related to those described in the tracheal 

 epithelial cells (13). 



In course of the inflammation, the alveolar cells 

 undergo profound changes (II, 12). These are true 

 metaplastic changes in the cell which tends to be 

 transformed into an histiocyte. 



The first step of this transformation is the forma- 

 tion of cytoplasmic microvacuoles and an increasing 

 number of dark granules in the cytoplasm. The 

 mitochondria are deteriorated. The volume of the 

 cell increases. 



The microvacuoles are then replaced by character- 

 istic ergastoplasmic structures with small dark gran- 

 ules on their surface (fig. 3). The cytoplasm has a 

 weak density; the mitochondria are small, their 

 cristae are farther apart and more regular. The 

 osmiophilic bodies are scarce and atypic. The Golgi 

 apparatus does not seem to have changed in 

 shape. Finally one can observe that the microvilli 

 are longer and more numerous than usual, an indi- 

 cation of the change in the consistency of the cy- 

 toplasm. 



It is thought that the most remarkable change lies 

 in the appearance of ergastoplasm in a cell which 

 is normally deprived of it. This ergastoplasm seems 

 to originate from the tubules of the endoplasmic 

 reticulum. At first the tubules were swollen, dark 

 granules sticked to them and their number increased 



in the ground cytoplasm. Observations with the 

 light microscope after Unna-Pappenheim stain re- 

 vealed that basophilic reaction had increased in 

 accordance with the increasing number of small dark 

 granules, then with the appearance of ergastoplasmic 

 structures. 



The possibility of metaplasia produces another 

 evidence proving that alveolar cells are connective 

 tissue elements by nature and that the whole alveolar 

 wall has a mesenchymal origin. Only the cells of 

 the bronchi should be called epithelial. These 

 considerations apply to the whole field of lung 

 pathology. 



References 



1. Bargmann, W. and Knoop, /K.,Z.Zellforsch. 44, 263-281 



(1955). 



2. Clemens, H. J., Z. Zellforsch. 40, 1-7 (1954). 



3. Karrer, H. E., J. Biophys. Biochem. Cvtol. 2, 241-252 



(1956). 



4. — Bull. Johns Hopkins Hasp. 98, 65-84 (1956). 



5. KiscH, B., E.\ptl. Med. Surg. 13, 101-117 (1955). 



6. Low, F. N., Anat. Rec. 113, 437-443 (1952). 



7. — ibid. 117, 241-252 (1953). 



8. — ibid. 120, 827-852 (1954). 



9. PoLiCARD, A., Collet, A., and Giltaire-Ralyte, L., 



Presse med. 62, 1775-1777 (1954). 



10. — Compt. rend. acad. sci. 240. 2363-2365 (1955). 



11. — Presse med. 63, 1775-1777 (1955). 



12. — Compt. rend. acad. sci. 240, 2473-2475 (1955). 



13. Rhodin, J. and Dalhamn, T., Z. Zellforsch. 44, 345-412 



(1956). 



14. ScHLiPKOTER, H. W., Deut. med. Wochschr. 79, 1658- 



1675 (1954). 



15. ScHLiLZ, H., Vircho\vs Arch. 328, 582-604 (1956). 



16. SwiGART, R. H. and Kane, D. J.. Anat. Rec. 118, 57-71 



(1954). 



Vergleichende Untersuchungen (der MitochoiKdrien in Rattenlungen 

 nach intratrachealer Injektion von Kieselsaure 



W. KiKUTH. H. W. SCHLIPKOTER Ulld P. ScHROETELER 



Iiistitiit fiir Hygiene u. Mil<robiologie der niedizinischen Akadenu'e, Diisseklorf 



OEi den BemiJhungen um die Entstehung der Sili- 

 kose wiesen Kikuth, Schlipkoter, Schwarz und 

 Staudinger in letzter Zeit auf die besondere Bedeu- 

 tung zellularer AngrifTspunkte bei den silikotischen 

 Schiidigungen hin. Schlipkoter konnte bei Unter- 

 suchungen von Rattenlungen, die Quarzgranulome 

 enthielten, Veriinderungen an den Mitochondrien 

 und eine Vermehrung konzentrisch geschichteter, 

 osmiophiler Zelleinschtusse nachweisen, die nach 

 Ansicht von Bargmann und Knoop Umwandlungs- 

 formen von Mitochondrien sein sollen. Von bioche- 

 mischer Seite erfolgte durch Staudinger und Kersten 

 insofern eine Bestatigung, als sie eire spezifische 

 Schiidigung in der Atmungskette der Mitochondrien 



durch Quarzwasser zeigen konnten. Wir haben des- 

 halb die Frage erneut aufgegrifTen, ob auch nach 

 Applikation von amorpher Kieselsaure in den granu- 

 lomhaltigen Lungen submikroskopisch sichtbare 

 Veranderungen festzustellen sind. 



Zunachst wurden Untersuchungen an Lungenge- 

 weben von normalen Ratten vorgenommen. Es kann 

 heute als bewiesen angesehen werden, daB die Alve- 

 olen von einer kontinuierlichen Zytoplasmaschicht 

 ausgekleidet sind. 



Der Zytoplasmabelag wird ofTensichtlich von den 

 Alveolarepithelien gebildet und als Auslaufer dieser 

 Zellen angesehen. Die Zellauslaufer, die die Alveo- 

 larwand auskleiden, enthalten einige Mitochondrien 



