Coordinated Biochemical and Morphologic Examination of Hamster Tracheal Epithelium2

A respiratory epithelium of the hamster was examined by autoradiographic and biochemical techniques. Normal morphology was preserved in tracheas maintained in vitro for up to 3 hours. Biochemical analyses could be performed on epithelial cells obtained from the tracheal segments. Maintenance of isolated tracheal segments in vitro permitted Far greater incorporation of radioactively labeled precursors as compared to administration in vivo. 3H-5-uridine was incorporated into high molecular weight RNA in vitro and “maturation” of ribosomal RNA species occurred in vitro, as previously described for other cells and tissues. Biochemical events were correlated with cell type by concurrent quantitative autoradiography. Basal cells incorporated less 3H-5-uridine than mucous or ciliated cells. Correlated biochemical and morphologic study may be a means of evaluating biochemical changes in the presence of altered cell populations after carcinogen administration.