A NOTE ON THE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE OPOSSUM’S LUNG

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Abstract
Lungs from newborn and adult opossums were studied histochemically. The newborn lung was reptilian in plan and proved similar to other actively growing fetal lungs by revealing few differentiated characteristics. The adult lung exhibited the histochemical complexion of typical mammalian lungs, except that its alveolar walls were replete with fat, and mucous glands were conspicuously reactive for succinic dehydrogenase. The discussion centers on possible ontogenetic adaptations which prepare the immature opossum''s lung for early function.