[Morphological and histochemical studies on the development of human conjunctival goblet cells]

This report deals with the development of human conjunctival goblet cells. Fifty-six eyes of human embryos and fetus ranging from 5 to 41 weeks of gestational age were used in this study. Glycosaminoglycans in the goblet cells were investigated histochemically using 1% alcian blue staining (pH = 2.5) and PAS reagent staining and sialidase (neuraminidase) digestion. At 8 weeks, goblet cells appeared in the forniceal area, and they extended to the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva. These cells were already similar to adult goblet cells. Alcian blue staining and the enzyme digestion method revealed the existence of sialic acid in the goblet cells from 9 weeks. These results suggest that at the early developmental stage the goblet cells develop from the forniceal area. It is also indicated that the goblet cells in the early developmental stage are already similar to cells in the adult stage because they contain mainly sialic acid as glycosaminoglycans.