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Brush cells in the human fetal trachea
M F DiMaio1, M Kattan, D Ciurea
1Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.
Pediatric Pulmonology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Brush cells, identified by unique microvilli, were found in human fetal trachea during the second trimester. These cells are rare but normal components of developing tracheal epithelium.
Area of Science:
- Human fetal lung development
- Cell biology
- Histology
Background:
- Brush cells are a rare cell type in the respiratory epithelium.
- Their presence and distribution in developing human fetal lungs are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and location of brush cells in human fetal airway and acinar epithelium.
- To characterize brush cells in the developing respiratory tract.
Main Methods:
- Morphologic examination of human fetal lung tissue.
- Utilized scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
- Analyzed tissue from a 19-20 week gestational age fetus.
Main Results:
- Brush cells were identified in the tracheal epithelium of a 19-20 week gestational age fetus.
- These cells represented 0.5% of the total tracheal epithelial cell population.
- Brush cells were not observed in the bronchial, bronchiolar, or developing acinar epithelium.
Conclusions:
- Brush cells are infrequently present but are a normal component of the developing human fetal tracheal epithelium in the second trimester.
- The findings contribute to the understanding of cellular differentiation in the fetal respiratory system.