Histological Study of an Experimentally Constructed Decellularized Rat Lung as a Model of Whole Organ Three-Dimensional Natural Scaffold

Abstract

Examination of Masson stained sections showed preserved normal lung architecture. Collagen fibers present in the walls of the arteriole, bronchiole and alveolar septa were preserved. Examination of Orcein stained section revealed the elastic fibers stained reddish brown. They were continuous and distinct in the lamina propria of the bronchioles, inter alveolar septa as well as in the walls of the pulmonary arterioles. Examination of PAS stained section revealed preserved PAS positive material in the continuous basement membrane of alveolar septa. In this work, transmission electron microscopy was used to study the capillary alveolar basement membrane, which is a very important feature of a successful decellularized scaffold to assist stem cell movement into the alveolar spaces and help the growth of endothelial cells in decellularized lungs.