Nasal glands in newborn infants

The entire mucosa of the nasal septum from four newborn infants was removed, stained by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method, and the density of mucous glands was determined in 12 different localities. The interindividual median density was 30.7 glands/mm2 and the median count 13,500 glands. The glands were regularly distributed over the entire respiratory region, but with a significant decrease in density in the posterior half. It has been demonstrated that all glands are laid down before birth, that their density decreases with increasing age until it reaches 8.4 glandss/mm2 at an adult age, and that acute or recurrent acute catarrhal or inflammatory changes of the nose do not lead to the newformation of glands.