Alveolar Wall Cells of the Guinea Pig

Abstract

The ratios of lactate dehydrogenase-positive alveolar wall cells (primarily type 2 pneumocytes) to alveoli were determined for the lungs of control and exposed (continuous 2 ppm nitrogendioxide) guinea pigs. The study was divided Into three exposure periods of one, two, and three weeks with four pairs of control and exposed animals evaluated for each period. The findings tentatively indicate disturbances in the microecological aspects of cells of the lung secondary to, but not specific for, NO₂ exposure, and further suggest with the support of other studies that type 1 cells are being replaced by type 2 cells. Confirmation of the findings and an exploration of the question of reversibility are part of the ongoing study.