Histological and ultrastructural observations on the development of the lung of the fetal pig

Abstract

Lungs of fetal pigs having gestational ages ranging from 80 to 115 days were examined histologically and by electron microscopy. At 80 days bronchial epithelium was ciliated but bronchiolar cells were not and bronchial mucosal glands were absent. Peripheral regions consisted predominantly of mesenchymal tissue with glandular alveoli. 92 days marked the transition from the immature to the more mature lung type. Bronchial glands appeared and began to grow from the epithelium into the lamina propria, bronchiolar epithelial cells acquired cilia, and alveoli were becoming irregular in shape and had thinner interalveolar septa. Close contact between capillaries and alveolar epithelium established the blood-air barrier at many points. Differentiation of alveolar epithelium into types I and II pneumonocytes occurred at this stage and lamellated osmiophilic inclusion bodies were present in type II cells for the first time. The number of lamellated bodies increased progressively to term at 115 days.