Relation between morphological and physiological events in lung studied by rapid freezing

Abstract

We have applied the method of rapid freezing to the living ventilated lung in the open thorax of cats. Studies in isolated lung lobes showed freezing to depths of 0.1 cm in less than frac12 sec, 0.2 cm in 2 sec. Theoretical calculations based on an idealized model and the experimental data are compared. At these fast rates, ice crystal formation is submicronic and light microscopy shows good histological preservation. We discuss the problem of whether the lung tissues respond to rapid cooling by any detectible alterations of structural form. Indirect evidence from our own and other studies suggests that there is little or no reaction, although further work along this line is necessary. We believe this procedure has important uses as a way to relate structural and functional details within the lung. Submitted on September 5, 1961