Three-dimensional organization of the lamina reticularis in the rat tracheal basement membrane zone

The airway basement membrane zone is a region specialized for the attachment of the epithelium with the matrix. The epithelium is attached to the lamina densa, which, in turn, is connected to types I and III collagen of the lamina reticularis with anchoring fibrils. The purpose of this study was to define the three-dimensional organization of the structural proteins of the lamina reticularis in the rat trachea. We approached this problem by using whole mounts to look down on the flat surface of the basement-membrane zone rather than a cross section of its thin profile. Fluorescent microscopy with long working distance water immersion objectives and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the structural proteins are arranged as a mat of large fibers oriented along the longitudinal axis of the airway. Smaller fibers are crosslinked with the larger fibers to complete this structure. Other small fibers are oriented around the large fibers and an amorphous material covers individual fibers. The large fibers oriented along the longitudinal axis of the airway are consistent with prior descriptions of fibers composed of collagen III with some collagen I and V; small fibers encircling the large fibers may be collagen VI. The crosslinking fibers are made up of elastin and probably elastin-associated microfibrils. The amorphous proteins covering the fibrous framework may contain proteoglycans and other nonstructural proteins reported to be in the lamina reticularis. The present studies demonstrate that the structural proteins of the lamina reticularis in the rat trachea are arranged as fibers in a highly organized manner.