Differential distribution of brush cells in the rat lung.

The distribution of brush cells in the rat lung was studied using electron microscopic morphometry. Samples were taken from six distinctive anatomical regions. Tissue from the trachea, lobar bronchi, terminal bronchioles, first alveolar duct bifurcations, proximal alveolar regions, and the distal alveolar region were isolated and embedded in Epox 812. Aside from the trachea and the lobar bronchi, the other four regions were isolated from embedded tissue using microdissection techniques. Electron micrographs taken from thin sections of these samples were analyzed. It was found that brush cells made up 10% of the volume of epithelium covering the first alveolar duct bifurcation. Approximately 2% of the proximal alveolar epithelium, 1.4% of the terminal bronchiolar epithelium, and 3% of the tracheal epithelium were made up of brush cells. No brush-bordered epithelium was found in the lobar bronchi or in the distal alveolar walls. We conclude that brush cells have a distinct spatial location in the lung, being in high concentration in the trachea and in areas where first generation alveolar ducts bifurcate. The highest density was on the bifurcation of the first alveolar ducts, and their density decreased radially from this region.