Role of ultrastructural changes in the lungs of suckling rabbits in the pathogenesis of experimental cholera

Type II alveolocytes are destroyed in suckling rabbits during adhesion of Vibrio cholerae, whereas in type I alveolocytes no ultrastructural disorders are detected. The number of lipid granules is increased in the lipofibroblast cytoplasm. Transendothelial micropinocytosis and endothelial edema and destruction are increased in pulmonary capillaries, and plasmatic impregnation of the stroma is observed. The development of experimental cholera is associated with progressive disorders of the regional circulation, degranulation of platelets and basophils, destruction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and endotheliocytes, and a marked increase of vascular permeability.