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A comparison of methods for nasal mast cell demonstration
C M Trotter1, D M Salter, J A Wilson
1Dept. of Anatomy, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Rhinology
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Nasal mast cells are abundant in the superficial submucosa, not uniformly distributed, and show varied forms. Optimal visualization of these nasal mast cells requires paraformaldehyde fixation and Alcian blue-safranin staining.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Histology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Mast cells play a role in allergic rhinitis.
- Understanding mast cell distribution and morphology is crucial for nasal tissue analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and morphology of mast cells in human nasal turbinates.
- To compare different fixation and staining methods for optimal mast cell visualization.
Main Methods:
- Studied nasal turbinate specimens from 14 rhinitis patients and 5 autopsy subjects.
- Compared toluidine blue and Alcian blue-safranin staining after paraformaldehyde or neutral buffered formalin fixation.
- Quantified mast cell counts in different tissue layers (epithelium, superficial submucosa, deep submucosa).
Main Results:
- Mast cell numbers were significantly higher in the superficial submucosa compared to epithelium or deep submucosa.
- Paraformaldehyde fixation with Alcian blue-safranin staining yielded the highest mast cell counts.
- This optimal method revealed two distinct mast cell subtypes and superior nasal tissue demonstration.
Conclusions:
- Nasal mast cells exhibit non-uniform distribution, being most numerous in the superficial submucosa.
- Mast cells in nasal tissue are morphologically heterogeneous and present even in elderly individuals.
- Paraformaldehyde fixation and Alcian blue-safranin staining are recommended for accurate mast cell enumeration and characterization in nasal tissues.