Neuroendocrine cells in the nasal mucosa - preliminary report

The role of neuroendocrine cells (NC) in physiology and pathology of the human's respiratory tract is not fully understood. The aim of the study was the quantitative and morphometric assessment of NC in nasal mucosa in some pathological states.

40 patients, aged 28-63 years, with clinical signs of chronic, hypertrophic rhinosinusitis were qualified for the study. Rhinitis chronica hypertrophica coexisted with aspirin triad or asthma in 10 patients (group I), with advanced obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in 10 patients (respiratory disturbance index, RDI>40, group II). Group III consisted of 10 patients with simple rhinitis chronica hypertrophica who habitually smoked cigarettes (at least 20 cigarettes a day) while 10 non-smoking patients with simple rhinitis chronica hypertrophica were qualified to the control group. Fragments of nasal mucosa of approximately 0.5 cm(2) were collected from medial or inferior turbinate during mucoplasty procedures. NC were detected immunohistochemically using antibodies against chromogranin A (DAKO). The microscopic sections were evaluated in the light microscopy.

The study did not reveal the increased number of NC in examined fragments of nasal mucosa. Scattered NC were detected in single preparations of nasal mucous membrane in some patients in all groups. The number of detected neuroendocrine cells did not differ statistically between groups.