Morphometrical Analysis of Autofluorescent Granules in Bronchial Epithelia of Human Lung Cancer Cases and Suncus Fed BHA

The relationship between cancer growth, smoking habits, and lipid metabolism in the lung was studied morphometrically by examining autofluorescent granules (AFG) in the respiratory epithelia. AFG in the human bronchial epithelia were significantly larger in amount in male lung cancer cases of adenocarcinoma than in male cases of squamous cell carcinoma, female adenocarcinoma and non-cancerous cases. In male cases of adenocarcinoma, AFG were observed in larger amounts in heavy smokers. However, in the alveolar lining cells AFG were smaller in amount or irregular in appearance. In the bronchial and bronchiolar cells in the lungs of suncus murinus, AFG similar to those in the lungs of human and rats were observed. AFG in bronchial, bronchiolar, and adenomatous hyperplastic foci of suncus fed 1%(butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for 14.5-18 months) were significantly larger in amount compared to those in control animals. The relationship between the increase in amount of AFG in bronchial epitheliun in humans and suncus and active proliferation of their epithelia were discussed.