Structural and Functional Aspects of Cells in the Nasal Mucociliary System

Abstract

\s=b\The regulation of the fluid balance of the mucus is important for a good function of the mucociliary system in the nose. The nasal glands and the goblet cells have been proposed to be the main source of fluid. Microvilli-equipped epithelial cells, ciliated and nonciliated, constituting 70% to 90% of the cells on the turbinates in the nose, are of importance for the regulation of the hydration of the mucus. These cells have the same characteristics as other fluid-secreting cells elsewhere in the body. They have microvilli, a terminal web, folding of the basolateral membrane, and numerous cell organelles. Blockage of the energy supply strongly reduces the fluid secretion.

Comparison of CT Scan and Electron Microscopic Findings on Endoscopically Harvested Middle Turbinates

“…In control tissue samples, we observed dense patches of ciliated columnar cells arranged in a mosaic pattern with patches of goblet cells and nonciliated columnar cells with microvilli. Other authors have reported similar findings 10,13 . On transmission EM, controls show a high ratio of normal ciliated columnar cells to goblet cells described previously 7,8,14 .…”

Protein gene product 9.5-like and calbindin-like immunoreactivity in the nasal respiratory mucosa of perinatal humans

“…Of particular interest in relation to the present study is that neuroendocrine cells make up a significant portion of the tracheobronchial and lung RE cells, including those in developing humans Peuskens, 1969, 1972;Lauweryns et al, 1970;Cutz and Conen, 1972;Hage, 1972Hage, , 1973aRosan and Lauweryns, 1972;Cutz et al, 1975;Lauweryns and de Bock, 1981;Wharton et al, 1981;Sorokin et al, 1982;Stahlman and Gray, 1993). However, only thinly distributed neuroendocrine cells (the role of which is not known) have been described in the adult human nasal RE (Thaete et al, 1981;Petruson et al, 1984). The present study demonstrates that cells in developing human nasal RE manifest PGP-LI and calbindin-LI.…”

Aging of the Normal Nose in Adults

“…For example, circulatory problems may change the quality and quantity of the mucus in the nose, including the deposition of immune protective agents. Operating in an essentially contaminated environment, the nose needs a protective mucous lining and an active mucociliary flow mechanism at all times 90 . This study did not exclude patients with these types of medical conditions, and a statistical review showed that no single nonrhinologic diagnosis biased the data.…”