Human Nasal Glands Research Articles

LOCALIZATION OF PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN THE HUMAN NASAL GLAND. COMPARISON OF PATIENTS WITH A HOUSE DUST NASAL ALLERGY TO PERSONS WITH NORMAL GLANDS

Endogenous peroxidase activity was localized in seromucous-secretion cells of human nasal glands with the diaminobenzidine method for light and electron microscopic histochemistry.Localization of the activity occurred in the cisternae of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, including the nuclear envelope, some vesicles and saccules of the Golgi complex, and secreting granules.In the case of patients with a house dust nasal allergy, peroxidase activity in the nasal glands diminished or disappeared. However, activity recovered after reception of steroid hormone (dexamethasone 5mg/day for 7days). If nasal glands rely on the same nervous system as do salivary glands, then the diminishing of peroxidase activity may be due to the diminishing of sympathetic stimulation. Therefore, the relationship between nasal allergy and the sympathetic nerve will be considered.

Endogenous peroxidase activity in human nasal glands--difference between nasal allergy patients for house dust and normal controls

Endogenous peroxidase activity was demonstrated in seromueous-secreting cells of human nasal glands, using the diaminobenzidine method for cytochemical demonstration of perox-activity was localized in cisternae of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reti-culum including nuclear envelope, some vessicles and saccules of the Golgi complex and secreting granules.Peroxidase activity in nasal glands diminished or disappeared in the case of house dust nasal allergy patients. After giving steroid hormone(Dexamethasone 5 mg/day for 7 days) to these nasal allergy patients, peroxidase activity appeared again in the nasal glands.It can be considered that if nasal glands depend on the same nerve system as salivary glands, the diminution of peroxidase activity is due to the diminution of sympathetic stimu-lation.

Innervation of human nasal glands.

The innervation of human nasal glands was investigated with the electron microscope in 14 males and 11 females using osmium and permangante fixed material. Acetylcholinesterase activity was localized electron microscopically in formalin fixed tissues.

Ultrastructure of the mucous cells of the human nasal glands

The author investigated electron microscopically the ultra-fine structures of the mucous cells of the human nasal glands. The results are summerized as follows.

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF EXCRETORY PASSAGE OF THE HUMAN NASAL GLAND, ESPECIALLY ON THE STRIATED PORTION

The author made histological and cystological studies of excretory passage of the nasal gland in on the mucous membrane of the human inferior nasal turbinate.The results were summarized as follows :1. It was confirmed that there were two morphological varieties in the human nasal glands, one with excretory duct and the other without duct.It was considered that, in the case of the latter, one withont an excretory duct, a tubular gland duct performed the role of an excretory duct.By many past investigators, it has been said that the nasal glands with excretory ducts consist of the secretory and the excretory duct, and do not possess portion and intercalated But in the author's study, it was noted that in 9 out of 11 cases, nasal glands had portion in the transitional part between the secretory and the excretory duct.2. These glands were found in the auterior one half of the inferior turbinate where the nasal glands were densely distributed.3. The striated of the nasal glands showed some dilatation ofthe lumen. It was tortulous and passed into the terminal (secretory portion), demonstrating simple branching. Sometimes considerablly long ducts were seen.The striated cells were fairly large, tall and columnar, and contained granules in the cytoplasmThey were stained ligtitly with eosin, although the cells in the secretory suere stained much, darker.Usually, individual cells contained one nucleus, which located in the center of the cell, but, sometimes. the nucleus located in the distal of the cell.And beneath the nucleus, the peculiar basal striations were noticed.4. It is considered, therefore, that these striations consist of the striated cytoplasm, including the tortulous-shaped mitochondria and the clear interspaces between rows of striated cytoplasm.5. It has been reported that the presence striated cells in the parotid gland is the proof of endocrine activity of the gland.However, the author has not been able to obtain the evidence suggesting endocrine activity of the: human nasal glands.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION ON THE SEROUS CELLS OF THE HUMAN NASAL GLANDS

The author investigated electron microscopically the fine structures of the serous cells of the human nasal glands. The results obtaind were as follows.(1) The cells changes morphologically compexly and subtly corresponding to the stage of their secretory function.When the secretory granules start to appear, the nucleus is situated nearly at the center of the cell and shaped round.The infranuclear zone is abundant in lamellar endoplasmic reticulum (E R.), and in the supranuclear zone well developed Golgi bodies are recognized.Morphologically typical mitochondria are distributed evenly in the whole field of the cell, with the apparance and increase of the secretory granules, the nucleus is gradually lowered downwards and transformed, and the E. R. and Golgi bodies lose their lammellar structures and get obscure.In the loaded phase, the mitochondria show a tendency to expand diminish.Just after discharge of the secretory granules, R. N. A. granules are scanty, the E. R. is swollen and gets vacuolar, and the mitochondria are scarce and remarkably expandedIn the next stage, the vacuolar E. R. aggregates densely, the cell looks apparently reticulated, and the mitochondria start to increase.Furthermore, the R. N. A. granules increase and compressed E. R. shows an imcompletely lamellar structure. Thus the cells is in the presecretory stage.(2) In the early stage the secretory granules are formed in the Golgi apparatus and seem to arise from any of Golgi granules, Golgi membrane and E. R. in the Golgi apparatus. Extending over the preparatory and the loaded phase, they are seemingly formed chiefly in the supranuclear zonea nd arise from the degenerated mitochondria with R. N. A. granules on the circumferences.(3) The so called lipochonria of Baker are encounterd. Lipoid granules and lipochondria are recognized in all the stage of the secretory cycle, and even in the myoepithlial cells.(4) Transitional picture between the exomembrane of the nucleus membrance and the E. R. was seen.(5) Between the adjoning cells were recogneized the desmosome and terminal bar which had not been proved by light microscope. They were very similar to each other, but author realized that there were some differences between them.(6) There are microville on the free surface of the cell facing to the lumen. They seem to change corresronding to the secretory function of the cell.(7) Intercellular secretory canaliculi are often found, the lumen of whieh is rich in microvilli.(8) Remarkable intercellular interdigitation are recognized at the boundary between the adjoining cells and infoldings are seen in the basal part of the cell.The basal infoldings are not so remarkable as those of striated cells of the salivary glands or epithelial cells of the kidney.

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE HUMAN NASAL GLANDS

Although histology an, d cytology of the human nasal glands have been studied by many the fundamental knowledge is left inconclusive. The author carried out detailed observations on the glands of human nasal mucosa in 60 cases. The results are summarized as follows 1, There are two kinds of nasal glands, the smaller and larger ones. The former is located in the lamina propria immediately beneath the epithelium, while the latter is found in the deep layer of the mucous membrane. In areas where the mucous membrane is relatively thin., even larger glands' are located beneath the epithelium extending parallel to the epithelial. surface. Thus the position and extension of the glands may depend upon the thickness of the mucous. membrane. 2. The small glands have no excretory ducts but the glandlar tubules (secretory portion) open directly on the epithelial surface. Some of the larger glands have their own excretory ducts, but most of them are lacking of those and open directly in a like manner as do the smaller glands. The excretory duct has a large tubular lumen and is lined with pseudostralified epithelium which is composed of two kinds of cells, the taller and shorter, both of which stand upon the basement membrane and appear like two layered stratified epithelium. The duct is turtuous and its branching was never observed. 3. In parts between the excretory duct and the secretory portion, the striated portions are recognized in some, but the incidence is considerably rare, viz., being found in only 4 cases. The so-called basal striation is found at the basal parts of the epithelial cells of the striated portions, where the cells align in a simple columnar epithelium. A small number of such basally striated cells may appear among the epithelial cells of the excretory duct. Primary branching of the striated portions could be observed. 4. The opening of the nasal gland is observed on the free surface of the epithelium in some cases, and in the epithelial recess in others where two glands may frequently open in a single recess. 5. Neither pure serous nor pure mucous glands present. All of them are mixed glands of either branched tubular or branched tubulo-alveolar form. As the excretory duct does never branch, even the gland with an excretory duct and branched secretory portions may be called the simple gland. In smaller nasal glands the branching of the glandular tubules is rather-simple, whereas the tubules of large glands branch for sevearl times in a complicated manner. Branching of the gland tubules is always observed even in the simplest small glands, and neither unbranched nor intraepithelial gland appear in the human nasal mucosa. 6. About the arrangement of mucous and serous cells in the nasal glands a definite law may be recognized. Namely, the mucous cells are situated at the proximal part near the opening, while the serous cells at the distal part of the gland tubule. The mucous cells form mucous secreting glandular tubules, i.e., the mucous tubules (Schleimrohr), which branch for several times. A rather thick main portion has a dilated lumen which empty into the excretory duct, striated portion or directly on the surface epithelium. To the mucous tubule, mostly tubular or sometimes alveolar serous secreting portion opens. Some of serous glandular tubules primarily branch. Mainly at the terminal portion of branches of the mucous tubule, a plenty of demilunes formed by serous cells are observed. The serous glandular tubules and demilunes form the terminal portion of the nasal glands. Some of the serous glandular tubules open directly on the wall of excretory duct. 7. A number of demilunes are always found in the human nasal glands. The shape and size of demilunes are various, and at the terminal portion of one mucous tubule several numbers of demilunes could be seen. Some of the damilunes project themselves outward and they seem to be the transitional forms into serous glandular tubules.