Morphology of the airways and lung parenchyma in hatchlings of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta

Light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the lungs of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), hatchlings to be multichambered with several separate open chambers communicating with a cartilage-reinforced central intrapulmonary bronchus. This central bronchus is structurally analogous to an oversized mammalian respiratory bronchiole. The subsequent branching airways, chambers and niches, are in many ways structurally and functionally similar to mammalian alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs, respectively. The airways are lined by a pseudostratified, columnar epithelium comprised of ciliated, nonciliated secretory, and basal cells. Histochemically, the epithelium is found to contain cells secreting both sialomucins and sulfomucins, as well as a neutral serous secretion. Small granule cells, a type of neuroendocrine cell similar to those seen in mammals, are scattered among the other airway cells. The gas-exchange areas, termed ediculae, are lined by the respiratory type I and type II pneumocytes, as in mammals. Abundant smooth muscle is seen in the trabeculae and interedicular septa of the lung tissue. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.