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Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dovey, M; Wisseman, CL; Roggli, VL; Roomans, GM; Shelburne, JD; Spock, A
Published in: J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol
July 1989

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic disease among Caucasians, with much of the morbidity and most of the mortality related to pulmonary complications. The underlying defect in this disease has yet to be precisely defined, so it is somewhat surprising that a comprehensive study of the ultrastructural morphology of the lung in CF has not heretofore been reported. We used transmission electron microscopy to examine the small airways in 15 patients who had died of CF, and compared the findings with 15 disease controls with non-CF chronic airways disease and 15 patients with normal lung morphology. The lung parenchyma was also examined ultrastructurally in 7 patients with CF, 4 disease controls, and 4 normal lung cases. In addition, the literature regarding the ultrastructural morphology of the large airways in CF was reviewed. Patients with CF showed non-specific ciliary abnormalities, hyperplasia of mucous cells, increased numbers of pulmonary neuroendocrine and indeterminate cells, degeneration and sloughing of epithelial cells, and colonization of bacteria of the mucous layer of the small airways when compared with normal controls. Alveoli showed non-specific injury and regeneration of type II pneumocytes. However, these changes were all similar to those observed in the disease controls. Specifically, no cellular or subcellular ultrastructural abnormality unique to CF was observed. It is probable that the most useful ultrastructural approach to the lung in CF in future studies will involve X-ray microanalytical studies of ionic composition using cryotechniques.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol

ISSN

1122-9497

Publication Date

July 1989

Volume

21

Issue

3

Start / End Page

521 / 534

Location

Italy

Related Subject Headings

  • Trachea
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Pathology
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Male
  • Lung Diseases
  • Lung
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cystic Fibrosis
 

Citation

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Dovey, M., Wisseman, C. L., Roggli, V. L., Roomans, G. M., Shelburne, J. D., & Spock, A. (1989). Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis. J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol, 21(3), 521–534.
Dovey, M., C. L. Wisseman, V. L. Roggli, G. M. Roomans, J. D. Shelburne, and A. Spock. “Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis.J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol 21, no. 3 (July 1989): 521–34.
Dovey M, Wisseman CL, Roggli VL, Roomans GM, Shelburne JD, Spock A. Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis. J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol. 1989 Jul;21(3):521–34.
Dovey, M., et al. “Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis.J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol, vol. 21, no. 3, July 1989, pp. 521–34.
Dovey M, Wisseman CL, Roggli VL, Roomans GM, Shelburne JD, Spock A. Ultrastructural morphology of the lung in cystic fibrosis. J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol. 1989 Jul;21(3):521–534.

Published In

J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol

ISSN

1122-9497

Publication Date

July 1989

Volume

21

Issue

3

Start / End Page

521 / 534

Location

Italy

Related Subject Headings

  • Trachea
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Pathology
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Male
  • Lung Diseases
  • Lung
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cystic Fibrosis