MORPHOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDY OF PULMONARY CHANGES INDUCED BY BLEOMYCIN IN MICE

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (6) , 558-568
Abstract
Pulmonary changes induced by the antitumor agent bleomycin were investigated in mice using light microscopy and EM and by phospholipid analysis of the alveolar washings. The damage began in the endothelium of capillaries and was accompanied by interstitial edema and an appearance of enlarged macrophages along with hypertrophy of type II epithelial cells. This condition was followed by degeneration of type I cells. The denuded epithelium appeared to be repaired by 2 mechanisms. In areas away from the bronchioles, division of existing type II cells and subsequent transformation into type I cells appeared to be the pattern of epithelial repair. In areas near the bronchiole, downgrowth of bronchiolar undifferentiated cells and subsequent maturation of these cells to type II and type I cells appeared to be prominent. Total phospholipids and disaturated lecithin in the alveolar wash increased along with the increase of the alveolar lining layer and hypertrophy of type II cells. This was considered to be consistent with the view that the hyperactive type II cells secreted more surfactant in the early phase of the experiment.