Guinea pig lung cells. Method of isolation and partial purification, identification, ultrastructure, and cell count.

Guinea pig lung cells (over 700 x 10(6) cells/lung) were obtained following gentle digestion of lung tissues with a solution of protease type VII (50 micrograms/ml). The viability of these cells was over 86% as estimated by the trypan blue exclusion technique. The cell suspensions were elutriated into eight fractions, which were characterized by selected staining techniques (Alcian blue, esterase, and Papanicolaou) and by electron microscopy. Differential cell counts were done to establish the percentages of each type of cells in the overall population. Electron microscopy analyses of the cell populations have allowed the identification of most of the various isolated cell types and showed that the cellular organelles and ultrastructures were well preserved. These cell populations will be used for characterizing lung immunologic, metabolic, and endocrine functions, as well as for studying cell interactions.