The Fine Structure of the Lungs in the Course of Hyaline Membrane Disease of the Newborn Infant

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Abstract
The electron microscope investigations in a case of hyaline membrane disease of the lungs of a premature newborn infant are reported. In those parts of lungs which were free of changes as revealed by light microscopy, the cytoplasm of the capillary endothelium contained a lot of small vesicles, which were considered as pinocytotic ones. The same process was expressed to a lesser degree in the epithelial lining of the air spaces; some corresponding changes in the extracellular space of the blood-air barrier were observed. The pinocytosis of the cellular components of the blood-air barrier was rather a generalised process. It is suggested that the onset of hyaline membrane disease starts with increasing pinocytosis of the capillary endothelial cells.