A peculiar mode of formation of the surface lining layer in the lungs of Salamandra salamandra.

The pneumocytes of the larva of Salamandra salamandra contain numerous lamellar bodies and their precursors: electron-dense bodies at various stages of development. Both lamellar bodies and electron-dense bodies occur inside the fluid-filled lung. The former are spherical or bell-shaped and possess concentrically arranged smooth membranes, 8 nm thicks; the latter have paracrystalline cores composed of alternatively oriented clear and dark striations (3 . 6--3 . 9 nm and 2 . 6--3 . 6 nm, respectively). On all sides such cores separate membranes, which assume a concentric orientation. No tubular myelin was observed in any phase of the transformation of lamellar bodies and electron-dense bodies into the surface lining layer. Fixation of the lungs of adult individuals with tannic acid-containing fixative visualized the surface lining layer, but not tubular myelin.