ヒト下鼻甲介における年令変化 組織学的研究

Abstract

The age-related histological changes of the human inferior nasal turbinates were studied by means of morphometric and other quantitative techniques. The specimens used in this study Were 100 inferior turbinates (31 females and 69 males) obtained at autopsy. They were from 1.3 to 84 years of age and without any apparent nasal pathology.The height of mucous epithelial layer and the number of basal cells decreased with age. Although the incidence of epithelial atrophy increases, obvious age effects are not observed in the incidence of epithelial squamous metaplasia and in the population density of goblet cells.The thickness of basement membrane under epithelial layer increases with age accompanied by marked hyalinization. The incidence of loosening of the basement membrane, however, does not apparently change with age.In lamina propria, the number of infiltrating small round cells and the proportion of glandular tissue area to lamina propria decreased with age. As the age advances, the intimal thickening of muscular arteries and fibrosis of lamina propria are obviously observed.Although these changes are caused by either or both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, these changes should be interpreted as a whole to elucidate the age-related histological changes of the entire inferior nasal turbinate.