Nasal submucosal glands: lectin histochemistry study

Submucosal glands (SG) are the most important secretory elements in the human nasal mucosa. However, there is little information about the glycoconjugates of the SG secretions. Ten patients were selected in an aleatory way and a wide biopsy of the right inferior nasal turbinate mucosa was performed. The patients did not present any otorhinolaryngologic disease and the nasal exploration was normal. The serous cells of SG show a moderate reactivity to WGA, N-PNA, N-WGA and ConA and mild to WEA-I. The mucus cells of SGNM demonstrate a strong reactivity to N-PNA and N-WGA, moderate to WEA-I and WGA and there is no reactivity to Con-A. For DBA, SBA and LTA lectins no reactivity was observed.