The postnatal growth of the rat lung. I. Morphometry

Abstract The postnatal growth of the lung was quantitatively investigated in rats aged 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 21, 44 and 131 days by light and electron microscopic morphometry. Lung volume (V L ) increased first directly with body weight (W). After day 10 V L followed the function W 0.70 . Based on the quantitative findings the postnatal lung growth could be divided into three phases. Lung expansion (up to day 4): Lung volume increase resulted almost exclusively from an 87% enlargement of the existing air spaces. Tissue proliferation (day 4 to 13): All tissue compartments showed a pronounced mass increase, followed by a high gain in capillary volume. Alveolar and capillary surface areas (Sa, Sc) developed rapidly due to subdivision of the primitive air sacs. Equilibrated growth (third week to adult age): An initial period of redistribution of tissue mass with septal lengthening and further rapid increase in Sa and Sc was followed by proportionate alveolar growth. In the adult further lengthening of the interalveolar septa or continued alveolar formation could not be excluded. During the period of fundamental internal remodelling of the lung, its function, as determined by the morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity, was not impaired.