(Fwd) how many cells in lungs of mice ??

[tvitalis at PRL.PULMONARY.UBC.CA]

Hi netters,

Is there anybody out in the net who knows 
how many cells are in the lungs of mice ??

Please give me estimations or references that could help me !

Thanks for Your help


Hans-Peter Steffens
Institut of Virology
University of Mainz
stefh000 at mzdmza.zdv.uni-mainz.de

Interesting question.

One could estimate the number of cells in a mouse lung as follows:

1) remove lungs from a mouse, deflate as much as possible and deterime 
the wet weight. 
2) multiply lung weight by 1.065 g/ml (density of tissue) to 
estimate lung volume or determine lung tissue volume displacement 
( aprox. 0.19 ml)
3) divide lung volume by the volume of a spherical cell of 10 microns 
in diameter (500 femtolitre)

0.19 ml/500 femtolitre = 380 million cells

This of course is only a minimal  estimate based on volumes of spherical 
cells. 75% of mammalian lungs are comprised of cell specialized to 
maximize the surface area to volume ratio in contrast to spheres 
which have a minimum surface area to volume ratio.

tvitalis at prl.pulmonary.ubc.ca