Retention of Pollen Grains in Human Lung.

Abstract
The possibility of the penetration of pollen grains into the tracheobronchial tree in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma is a controversial question. To investigate this phenomenon 2 different approaches were conducted. First, acetolysis (acidic degradation of organic constituents) of mucosal samples from different levels of the pig respiratory tract showed that specific (plane tree) inhaled pollens were not found beyond the main bronchi. Second, a noticeable number of pollens were present in acetolyzed residues of lung surgical samples; this was due to contamination. In the 1st approach this problem was avoided. The analysis of surgical samples could be a valuable technique if suitable controls were included.