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ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE PULMONARY MICROCIRCULATION IN EXPERIMENTAL STREPTOCOCCAL BACTERÆMIA
Author(s) -
Stehbens W. E.,
Kostianovsky M.,
Sonnenwirth A. C.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1969.sp002042
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , ultrastructure , platelet , microbiology and biotechnology , vacuole , bacteria , phagocyte , extracellular , microcirculation , fibrin , biology , pathology , chemistry , immunology , anatomy , medicine , cytoplasm , genetics
An electron microscopic investigation was made of the changes in the small blood vessels of the alveolar walls of rabbits' lungs five minutes to five hours after intravenous infusion of 20 ml. of a pure suspension of Streptococcus sanguis in sterile saline. The most prominent feature was the presence of numerous leucocytes (neutrophils, macrophages and eosinophils) containing in phagocytic vacuoles bacteria which displayed progressive degenerative changes. Phagocytosis by leucocytes was well established by five minutes. Platelets became aggregated about bacteria and leucocytes forming sizeable thrombi. Many platelets underwent lysis and not uncommonly bacteria were aggregated in masses of cellular debris. Incontrovertible proof of extracellular digestion of bacteria by platelets was not obtained. Osmiophilic material was observed both intracellularly and extracellularly but no definite fibrin deposition was observed in these experiments. Evidence of phagocytosis by endothelium and platelets was found, but the principal phagocyte in the pulmonary microcirculation was the leucocyte. The ultrastructure of Streptococcus sanguis is described.