[Variants of the ultrastructure of bronchial ciliary cells]

The structure of the ciliated epithelium and its regeneration under normal conditions were studied using biopsy specimens of the trachea and extrapulmonary bronchi from healthy dogs. The specimens were processed with the routine methods for electron microscopy. Along with the typical structure of the ciliated cells there were observed various deviations considered earlier as consequences of bronchopulmonary pathology: changed cytoplasm of the ciliated cells in the form of cytoplasmic processes or follicles. In their composition there were single cilia, their aggregates and secretory granules. The qualitative and quantitative changes in the cilia were in the form of cilia with excessive cytoplasm, cilia aggregates included in a common cuticula, etc. It was suggested that the changes in the ultrastructure of the bronchial epithelium reflected a definite stage of the cell development and represented the normal state variants.