The ultrastructure of mouse lung; some remarks regarding the fine structure of the alveolar basement membrane.

The fine structure of the alveolar basement membrane of mouse lung was discussed on the basis of three electron micrographs. The basement membrane, i.e., the intercellular layer between endothelium and alveolar epithelium, was found to be of variable width. In its thin parts it appeared rather homogeneous, and did not reveal well defined layers of fibrils. In its thicker portions, some of which may be due to oblique sectioning, cell fragments could be seen lying inside the basement membrane layer. Their exact nature was not determined. In other thickened portions of the membrane bundles of slender (about 23 to 25 mmicro) fibrils were found and were tentatively interpreted as collagen fibrils, in spite of the fact that a periodicity could not be observed.