Multilamellar bodies of type II alveolar cell in the lung (mouse)

Electron microscopy. The cytoplasm of the type II alveolar cell (pneumocyte II) contains characteristic electron-dense multilamellar bodies (*) in different maturing stages. The lamellar bodies are responsible for the vacuolated appearance of these cells, and they give rise to surfactant (phospholipids, glycosaminoglycans, SP-A,B,C and D-protein). The pulmonary surfactant coats the alveolar surface, lowers the surface tension and plays also a role in the lung immune defense system.