The alveolar brush cell in rat lung—a third pneumonocyte

B Meyrick, L Reid - Journal of ultrastructure research, 1968 - Elsevier
In the rat alveolar lining epithelium a third cell type has been found which resembles the
brush cell previously described in large airways in rat and in man. It is here reported in rat
intrapulmonary airways of all sizes. The brush cell is characterized by blunt, squat microvilli
on its free edge, bundles of fine filaments throughout its cytoplasm, and the presence of β-
glycogen. In the alveolus its free edge is restricted by cytoplasmic flanges from adjacent type
I pneumonocytes. It is found centrally and distally within the acinus and comprises 5–10% of …