A study of goblet cells in the rat nasal septum by quantitative histological techniques

Abstract

The number and area of goblet cells in the normal rat septum were examined quantitatively using a whole-mount method and image analysis. With this approach, the number of goblet cells can easily be counted and quantitative analysis of secretory granules under different conditions can be determined histologically. When the whole mucosa of the nasal septum was divided from anterior to posterior into 8 equal sections, the third and fourth sections contained many large goblet cells. This finding may reflect the physiological role of the nasal mucosa, which warms and humidifies nasal air streams. The distribution of goblet cells in the nasal septum seems to be complementary with that of glandular orifices, which may serve the purpose maintaining the mucous blanket in the nasal cavity. ACh perfusion demonstrated an area of alcian-blue-positive secretory granules in goblet cells which decreased immediately afterwards, but recovered in 10 minutes. These results strongly suggest that ACh initially increases secretion in goblet cells and then enhances the production of secretory granules in these cells approximately 10 minutes later. IPR perfusion, on the other hand, showed an area of alcian-blue-positive secretory granules in goblet cells which decreased 30 minutes after treatment. Furthermore, there was variety in the area of each goblet cell. These results strongly suggest the possibility that IPR may slowly elevate secretion from goblet cells. It seems most likely that goblet cells have the same secretory reaction characteristics to autonomic nerve agents as glandular secretory cells.