A SEM STUDY OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE LOWER RESPIRATORY-TRACT SURFACE OF THE REINDEER (RANGIFER-TARANDUS-TARANDUS L)

The morphological features of the surface of the lower respiratory tra ct (trachea, bronchus, bronchiolus, distal airways, and alveoli) from 10 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.), differing in age and sex, were studied using scanning-electron microscopy. The respiratory surf ace of the reindeer generally resembles that reported previously in si milar studies for other mammalian species. Ciliated epithelial cells, goblet cells, microvillous cells, Clara cells, alveolar epithelial cel ls of type 1 and type 2, and alveolar macrophages could be distinguish ed by their universally characteristic surface morphologies. The rarit y of Kohn pores in the alveolar walls of reindeer was considered to be the most striking difference in comparison to most other species.