BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We determined the localization of leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase (L-12-LO) in murine nasal mucosa and to investigate the expression of L-12-LO according to the development of murine nasal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Immunohistochemical staining was done on the nasal mucosa of mice at gestational days 16, 17, 18, and mice at postnatal days 1, 3, 7, 14, and adult mice. Alcian blue (pH 2.5)-periodic acid Schiff staining on murine nasal mucosa was performed. RESULTS: In murine nasal respiratory mucosa, the expression of L-12-LO was noted in ciliated epithelial cells, basal cells, serous acini, and secretory ducts, but it was not found in the mucous acini and goblet cells. In olfactory mucosa, the expression of L-12-LO was noted in the olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells, and basal cells. The expression in respiratory mucosa according to the development was strongly noticed from the gestational day 16 through postnatal day 7. The expression in postnatal day 14 and adult mice was weaker than in the previous time point. The expression in olfactory mucosa showed no difference throughout the developmental stage. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, we found the exact localization of L-12-LO in murine nasal mucosa, and we also found the different expression of L-12-LO between the respiratory and olfactory mucosa. This fact suggests the possible involvement of L-12-LO in the development of murine respiratory mucosa.
Adult ; Alcian Blue ; Animals ; Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase* ; Epithelial Cells ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Respiratory Mucosa

The present study was carried out to investigate the glycoconjugate properties of the nasal mucosa in the rat after inhalation of formaldehyde. Sprague-Dawley male rats were inhalated 30 ppm formaldehyde for 3 times with 3 hours exposure. The olfactory and respiratory mucosa in the nasal mucosa were taken from the animals on 3, 6,9 days and 2, 3, 4, 5 weeks after inhalation of formaldehyde. The properties of glycoconjugate of the olfactory and respiratory mucosa were investigated using nine biotinylated lectins (PSA, UEA I, PHA-L, BSL I, PNA, MAL I, DBA, BSL II or sWGA). In experimental groups, the degenerative changes of the olfactory epithelium were observed until 3 weeks after inhalation of formaldehyde, but the respiratory epithelium was no change. In control group, the olfactory cells in the olfactory epithelium reacted with PSA, UEA I, PNA, DBA, BSL II, sWGA, and the supporting cells reacted with PSA, PHA-L, PNA, MAL I, DBA, BSL II, sWGA, and Bowman's glands reacted with all the lectins. In experimental groups, the olfactory cells reacted with UEA I, DBA, and the supporting cells reacted with PHA-L, MAL I, DBA, UEA I, and the positive reaction of Bowman's glands was increased. In control group, the goblet cells in the respiratory epithelium reacted with UEA I, MAL I, and the ciliated columnar cells reacted with PSA, UEA I, PHA-L, BSL I, DBA, BSL II, sWGA, and the septal nasal glands reacted with all the lectins except UEA I. In experimental groups, the goblet cells reacted with UEA I, MAL I and PNA. Conclusively, the olfactory mucosa was shown a lot of changes in the properties of glycoconjugates following inhalation of formaldehyde, but respiratory mucosa was shown feeble change. These results suggest that there were different sugar residues of glycoconjugate in the olfactory and respiratory mucosa following inhalation of formaldehyde, respectively.
Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Glycoconjugates ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lectins ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Phytohemagglutinins ; Rats ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins

The experiments of this study was performed to investigate the effects of sulfur dioxide on the changes of glycoconjugates of respiratory system of the rat. Sprague -Dawley male rats weighing about 200 ~250g were divided into a control group and SO2 exposed groups. Again SO2 exposed groups were divided into 10 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm subgroups according to concentrations of SO2 and each SO2 exposed groups were divided into 1, 3 and 6 hours groups. For the histological changes, H -E(hematoxylin -eosin) and PAS(periodic acid Schiff) staining were used and to investigate the change of sugar residues of glycoconjugates, biotinylated lectins(DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL -1, sWGA, UEA -1, LCA and Con A) were applied. Generally, the effects of SO2 on the rat nasal respiratory region were more serious at the high concentrations. Moreover, as the exposed time was longer even at the low concentrations, the effects of SO2 were similar to those of high concentration. Compared with all SO2 concentrations, the longer exposed time was, the more serious the effects of SO2 were. In the SO2 exposed groups the binding of PNA, RCA -1 and UEA -1 of cilia in the nasal septal respiratory epithelium tended to increase in the 10 ppm and 25 ppm SO2 exposed groups but it tended to decrease in the 100 ppm and 200 ppm SO2 exposed groups. In the cytoplasm of columnar cells of nasal septal respiratory epithelium, Con A binding increased in all the SO2 exposed groups. In the goblet cells DBA, SBA, PNA, RCA -1 and UEA -1 binding increased remarkably in the 50 ppm SO2 exposed groups but it decreased largely or disappeared in the 100 ppm and 200 ppm SO2 exposed groups. The binding of SBA, PNA, BSL -1, UEA -1 and Con A in the intraepithelial mucous cells which were not detected in the control group, increased in the 25 ppm and 50 ppm SO2 exposed groups while it tended to decrease in the 100 ppm and 200 ppm SO2 exposed groups. The binding of sWGA increased according to the concentrations of SO2 were higher and exposed times were longer. In the superior nasal septal gland, the binding of PNA increased in the 50 ppm and 100 ppm SO2 exposed groups and that of Con A increased in the 25 ppm and 50 ppm SO2 exposed groups. In the inferior nasal septal gland, except for LCA, the binding of the other lectins increased remarkably in the 25 ppm and 50 ppm SO2 exposed groups but it tended to decrease in the 100 ppm and 200 ppm SO2 groups. In the mucous duct cells, the reaction of PNA and RCA -1 increased compared with that of the control group. And the reaction of BSL -1 and UEA -1 increased in the lower concentrations of 50 ppm SO2 exposed group but it decreased in the 100 ppm and 200 ppm SO2 exposed groups. The binding of Con A increased in the 25 ppm and 50 ppm SO2 exposed groups. Consequently, from the results above mentioned that SO2 affected serious changes on glycoconjugates metabolism in the nasal cavity.
Animals ; Cilia ; Cytoplasm ; Glycoconjugates* ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Lectins ; Male ; Metabolism ; Nasal Cavity* ; Rats* ; Respiratory Mucosa* ; Respiratory System ; Sulfur Dioxide

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: MUC5AC is known to be a major secretory mucin in goblet cells of the mucosa of human lower respiratory tract. But in our preliminary study, we found that the levels of MUC8 mRNAs were significantly increased in the biopsy specimens of the nasal polyps whereas other mucin genes were not. This suggests the possibility that MUC8 might be one of the major overexpressed mucins in the nasal polyps. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cellular location of MUC5AC and MUC8 mRNA. Material and methods : Normal posterior ethmoid mucosa and the polyp tissue were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and were hybridized with the RNA riboprobe for MUC8 and the oligonucleotide probe for MUC5AC in the presence of digoxigenin (DIG). RESULT: In the normal posterior ethmoid mucosa, MUC 5AC mRNA and MUC8 mRNA were barely expressed in the epithelium and the submucosal glands. In the polyp epithelium, the expression of MUC 5AC mRNA was localized in the cytoplasm of goblet cells and the expression of MUC8 mRNA was strongly localized in the nucelus of the goblet cells, and weakly localized in the cytoplasm of the goblet cells. MUC8 mRNA was also expressed in low levels in the nucleus of the submucosal glands. CONCLUSION: MUC8 mRNA is localized mainly in the nucleus of goblet cells and is one of the major mucin genes overexpressed in goblet cells of thnasal polyp.
Biopsy ; Cytoplasm ; Digoxigenin ; Epithelium ; Goblet Cells ; Humans* ; Mucins ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps ; Respiratory System ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

OBJECTIVE: To describe five rare cases of bilateral olfactory clefts respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH), and investigate the clinicopathologic features in REAH. METHOD: Five cases with REAH were reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed. All the cases were confirmed by pathology. RESULT: The chief complaint in 4 cases when visited was nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, with or without hyposmia and headache. Another was discomfortable of head-facial region, sometimes with pus discharge and blood in nasal discharge. Polypoid neoplasms can be seen in nasal meatus of the 5 cases. Endoscopic sinus surgery was utilized to eliminate foci in 5 cases. All REAH foci located in bilateral olfactory clefts areas, four of which appeared polypoid changes,one appeared obvious inflammatory edema. All of them presented as wide-based lesion with tenacious quality compared to polyps. Histologically, these lesions were characterized by a glandular proliferation lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium originated from the surface epithelium, and the glands surround into round or oval, with various sizes and separated by stromal tissue. CONCLUSION It is possible to continue developing after operation, if REAH is not completely resected. Complete resection of lesions is the key to treatment success for this entity in endoscopic sinus surgery. Although REAH arising from the rhino sinusal region is very rare, rhinolaryngologists must know this entity in order to differentiate it from inverted papilloma and adenocarcinoma.
Adult ; Female ; Hamartoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; pathology ; Nose Diseases ; pathology ; Olfactory Mucosa ; pathology ; Respiratory Mucosa ; pathology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Social awareness of the narcotic effects of industrial adhesive vapors have been aroused by some teens who are reported to inhale these vapors to get the narcotic effects. When inhaled, the toxic effects of these chemicals are concentrated to the field of central nervous system, and the excretion system of metabolites like the liver and kidney. The effects of industrial adhesive vapors on the respiratory epithelium are unclear so far. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This was designed to study the morphological changes after exposure of the chemicals on the nasal mucosa in mice. Young healthy mice were exposed to industrial adhesive vapor (mixtures of acetone 5212+/-1268 ppm, c-hexane 3757+/-711 ppm, methyl cyclopentane 1820+/-375 ppm, n-hexane 139+/-30 ppm, toluene 0.9+/-1.4 ppm) for 20 min, once daily for 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, and 14 days. After adhesive vapor exposure, mice respiratory mucosa were excised, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immuno-histochemistry and in 2.5% glutaraldehyde -1.5% paraformaldehyde for transmission electron microscopy and in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for scanning electron microscopy. Fixed tissues were processed for immunohistochemistry and for electron microscopy. RESULTS: Cellular degeneration and necrosis were seen on exposure day 3 and 5 which included erosion or ulceration of epithelium, exfoliation of cell, deciliation, shrinkage of goblet cells etc. The architecture of ciliated columnar cells and goblet cells were regenerated on day 7. Among the ciliated cells, most of the cells were replaced by cuboid ciliated cells. And the secretory pattern of the goblet cells were also changed from the merocrine to apocrine type at same days of exposure. On the other hand, the PCNA immunochemical study revealed that positive cells were increased on day 5. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the nasal mucosa of mice can be damaged to some extent by daily regular exposure of industrial adhesive vapor. However, it could have a potency of regeneration to cuboidal cells, which are thought to change into more resistant cells in order to adapt to repetitive external stimuli.
Acetone ; Adhesives* ; Adolescent ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Cyclopentanes ; Epithelium ; Glutaral ; Goblet Cells ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhalation* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Mice* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Narcotics ; Nasal Mucosa ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Regeneration ; Respiratory Mucosa* ; Toluene ; Ulcer

The mucociliary system has primary defence mechanism in the respiratory tract. The effects of various drugs used clinically in the treatment of disease of the nasal cavity have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alpha1 receptor agonist, phenylephrine hydrochloride on ciliary beat frequency in vitro using a video computerized analysis technique. The ciliated epithelial cells from the nasal mucosa in four volunteers were collected in a culture medium and exposed to 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution according to 0.5 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, and 6 days. There was a significant decrease in ciliary beat frequency with exposure to 0.125% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution for 12 hours, and 0.25% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution for 8 hours(p<0.05). There were cilioinhibitory effects with concentration dependent response by phenylephrine hydrochloride solution. After substitution of the culture medium with phenylephrine hydrochloride free one showed no ciliary recovery in all groups. The results of this study suggest that phenylephrine hydrochloride may have phamacologically a cilioinhibitory effect in vitro on ciliated epithelium.
Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Phenylephrine* ; Respiratory Mucosa* ; Respiratory System ; Volunteers

We investigated the active proliferation sites of epithelial cells in normal nasal mucosa by immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), the marker of S phase of cell cycle and active cell proliferation. The whole nasal mucosa of the ten normal Sprague-Dawley rats were processed for PCNA immunolabeling. In respiratory portion, distinctly positive reaction was seen mainly in the anterior aspect, that is, the nuclei of squamous and non-ciliated cuboidal/transitional epithelium. These types of epithelial cells are transformed to pseudostratified ciliated epithelium in the posterior direction where positive reaction became scanty. In olfactory epithelium, the nuclei immunoreactive for PCNA were distinct in some area, but absent in other adjacent areas, lacking of region-specific immunolabeling that was observed in respiratory mucosa. These results suggest that anterior portion of nasal cavity is the main proliferation zone of normal nasal respiratory epithelium as well as the main site of protective function. In contrast, the neurogenesis of the olfactory nerve cells is not site-specific, indicating that any region covered by olfactory mucosa may be the main proliferation zone.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Neurogenesis ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Olfactory Nerve ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Mucosa ; S Phase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The olfactory mucosa in patients with persistent anosmia after endoscopic sinus surgery were immunohistochemically examined by using antimicrotubule associated protein 5 (MAP 5) and further compared with normosmic patients after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three biopsy specimens were obtained from the olfactory region of 15 patients with persistent anosmia and 6 patients with normosmia following sinus surgery. RESULTS: Immuno-histochemical examination of all specimens with microtubule-associated protein 5 (MAP5) antisera demonstrated olfactory epithelium in 11 of 18 specimens from normosmic patients and in 12 of 45 samples from anosmic patients. There was a significant difference in the proportion of specimens containing olfactory epithelium between both patients. In normosmic pateints, most of the biopsy samples contained normal-appearing olfactory tissue. However, two main patterns of histological findings were found in the olfactory mucosa of anosmic patients: First, the olfactory receptor cells were remarkably decreased in their number. Second, the orderly arrangement of cells characteristic of normal olfactory epithelia was lost, demonstrating degenerative appearance. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that olfactory epithelium can be degenerated even in chronic sinusitis and thereafter extensively replaced with respiratory epithelium, resulting in increased sampling error. Moreover, unimproved olfactory deficit following sinus surgery may be due to the abnormalities observed at the olfactory epithelium level.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Olfaction Disorders* ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Selection Bias ; Sinusitis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ciliary activity of respiratory epithelium is affected in allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into an unsensitized control group and sensitized allergic group. The sensitized group was immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin, followed by intranasal administration of ovalbumin. Allergy was determined by an increase in nasal symptoms, the number of tissue eosinophils and a positive result to a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test. Nasal, nasopharyneal, tracheal, and bronchial epithelial cells were obtained from both the control and allergic groups. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured using a video-computerized analysis technique in vitro. We compared the CBF of two groups in each site. We also evaluated the findings of the nasal mucosa of both groups with an scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: In vitro CBF measurement demonstrated that the CBF of the control and allergic groups did not differ significantly (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: CBF is not affected by respiratory allergy.
Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells* ; Hypersensitivity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Rhinitis*