SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION OF THE COLLAGEN AND ELASTIN FIBERS OF THE LUNG IN THE JAPANESE MONKEYS, MACACA-FUSCATA

The present study demonstrated the three-dimensional organization of t he collagen and elastin fibers of the lung in the Japanese monkeys, Ma caca fuscata as revealed by alkali-maceration/scanning electron micros cope technique. The collagen fibers, which were bundles of collagen fi brils, were repeatedly divided and fused to form a network along the a lveolar duct. The collagen fibers in the alveolar duct branched and en tered the alveolar septa, where the fibers again repeated branching an d fusing and formed thin networks. Thick collagen fibers around the al veolar mouths took significant degree of zig-zag or spiral courses. Th e elastin fibers were condensed around the alveolar mouths, but there were also elastin fibers between the adjacent alveolar mouths. Within the alveolar septa were course network of elastin fibers.