Freeze-fracture study of the intercellular junctions in bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma (Clara cell type)

Two bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas of Clara cell type have been studied by thin section and freeze-fracture techniques. Thin sections of the tumour cells showed junctional complexes (tight junctions and intermediate junctions) at the luminal aspect of the lateral cell membranes and desmosomes below them. Freeze-fracture replicas showed well-developed tight junctions with strands arranged in parallel or polygonal patterns. The junctions were continuous 'zonula occludens' type, usually three or more strands deep, with focal proliferation in some areas. The granules in the tumour cells tended to be larger than those of normal human Clara cells, although they were morphologically similar. There was no evidence of secretion of granules from the tumour cells. The relationships between tumour differentiation and growth pattern, and junctional development are discussed.