Abstract
A RECENT histological study1 of the changes that occur in human bronchial epithelium has confirmed in part earlier American findings2 and shown that considerable proliferation may occur in the cells of the basal layer without any other histological abnormality. As it seemed possible that some of these changes might be related to the development of bronchial cancer, a histochemical investigation has been begun. Since this work was not concerned with the distribution of free lipids, formalin-fixed tissue embedded in paraffin was used. The most striking result has been the very marked increase in the content or availability of lipid, probably bound phospholipid3, as shown by colouring with sudan black and staining by the acid hæmatein method4. This effect was strongest in the nuclei of the basal cells and was particularly well seen in the condition known as basal cell hyperplasia. In contrast, scarcely any lipid could be demonstrated in the cells of foci of established squamous metaplasia.
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CHAYEN, J., CUNNINGHAM, G. & WINSTANLEY, D. Chemical Changes in Human Bronchial Epithelium and their Relation to Bronchial Cancer. Nature 183, 1743 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1831743a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1831743a0
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