The ultrastructure of hamster bronchial epithelium

The central intrapulmonary bronchi of adult male Syrian hamsters were examined by electron microscopy to identify the principal types and proportions of epithelial cells. A differential count of cells displaying both a basal lamina and luminal border (transepithelial cells) showed that, on average, ciliated cells constituted 63% and granule-containing (granulated) secretory cells 25% of the total. Other transepithelial cells included nongranulated secretory cells (9%), preciliated cells (1.5%), and indeterminate cells (1%). The most frequent granulated secretory cell (77% of the population) was the Clara cell. It was identified by the presence of prominent apical smooth endoplasmic reticulum and secretory granules. It was subclassified into three types based on the presence or absence of rough endoplasmic reticulum and on granule morphology. Mucous cells (little or no smooth endoplasmic reticulum but with typical mucous granules) constituted approximately 20% of the granulated secretory cells. Serous cells were very infrequent. A differential count of nucleated epithelial cells demonstrated an average of 2% basal cells (hemidesmosomes present) and 20% pseudobasal cells (hemidesmosomes absent). Neuroepithelial bodies and solitary "small-granule" cells were infrequent. Brush cells and apoptotic bodies were rarely found but are noteworthy because their occurrence in hamster airways was not demonstrated previously. These results provide a foundation for subsequent analysis of alterations of epithelial homeostasis induced by injurious agents of exogenous and endogenous origin.