BAUHINIA-PURPUREA LECTIN (BPA) BINDING OF RAT TYPE-I PNEUMOCYTES - ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL ALTERATIONS AFTER RADIATION-INDUCED LUNG INJURY

In the rat lung, we found that the Bauhinia purpurea lectin (BPA) spec ifically binds to the type I alveolar epithelial cells and to the alve olar macrophages. Double label fluorescence employing FITC-coupled Mac lura pomifera lectin (MPA) and bBPA-avidin-Texas Red showed that BPA b inding was confined to type I cells. In addition, a minor staining of the luminal border of the terminal bronchiolar epithelium was found. T he sequence of tissue injury following X-radiation was examined in rat s. BPA is a suitable marker which indicates epithelial changes during the early stage of pneumonitis and the subsequent development of fibro sis.