Quantification of elastin from the mouse lung during postnatal development.

Elastic fibers play a vital role in secondary septal development during the process of lung alveolization. The authors present a quantitative study by image analysis and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the mouse lungs'elastic fibers throughout postnatal development. Five mice from birth up to the 21st day of postnatal development and on the 30th day of life were used daily. Their left lungs were collected and processed for observation under light microscopy. The staining was carried by a modification of the Gomori technique. The right lung of each animal was processed for elastin quantification by HPLC. Analysis by linear regression of the two methods' results showed there was a significant positive linear correlation. With this methodology of staining and image analysis we evaluated the normal establishment of the elastic network of the respiratory portion of the lung from birth to adult life. We now have a good model for studying the variations induced by exogenous agents in the synthesis and degradation of the pulmonary elastic fibers.