Ultrastructural changes in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells exposed to 80% O2 in vitro

Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells in culture were exposed for up to 7 d to a gas mixture containing 80% O2, 5% CO2, and 15% N2 (hyperoxia) and were compared by phase contrast and electron microscopy to cells exposed to a gas mixture containing 20% O2, 5% CO2, and 75% N2. Cells exposed to hyperoxia became enlarged and showed vacuolization and increased lysosomes within 24 to 48 h. These changes were progressive over the 7 d period of exposure. Between 3 and 7 d of exposure to hyperoxia the cells showed reductions in polysomes and endoplasmic reticulum. Despite the other marked cytoplasmic changes, the appearance of mitochondria of oxygen-exposed cells remained unchanged from those of air-exposed cells throughout the 7 d period. Preconfluent and confluent cells responded qualitatively similarly to hyperoxia, but morphological evidence of injury occurred more rapidly for preconfluent cells. We conclude that the initial early structural injury of the endothelial cell exposed to hyperoxia occurs in lysosomes and that the mitochondrial structure is relatively resistant to injury.