The human respiratory nasal mucosa in nasal syphilis. A histochemical study.

The enzymatic changes in tertiary nasal syphilis were studied in 5 patients. The cholinesterase was increased in the subepithelium, around the glands and blood vessels, denoting parasympathetic hyperactivity. Acid phosphatase was increased in the epithelium, stromal histiocytes, around the glands and ducts, indicating increased phagocytotic activity. Alkaline phosphatase was increased in the capillary endothelium and periglandular stroma, denoting marked vascular changes. Succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha esterase and PAS-alcian blue were diminished in the epithelium and glands, denoting diminished secretory activity, hence a diminished natural defence mechanism of the nasal mucosa. When serological tests are inconclusive, these findings become an important adjuvant to a final diagnosis.

The human respiratory nasal mucosa in females using contraceptive pills. An ultramicroscopic and histochemical study.

The ultrastructure and histochemical changes in 25 females using contraceptive pills were studied. Fifteen pill-using females developing no nasal symptoms showed similar changes to those observed in symptom-free pregnant females. Ten pill-using females developing nasal symptoms showed squamous metaplasia, interepithelial oedema, glandular hyperplasia, histiocytic proliferation and fibrous tissue deposition, all attributed to the action of oestrogen. Their histochemical reactions were similar to those of chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis.

PIP: This work examines ultrastructural and histochemical changes in the human nasal respiratory mucosa resulting from regular use of oral contraceptives (OCs). 25 healthy women aged 20-25 years were treated with Anovlar (4 mg norethisterone and .05 mg ethinyl estradiol) for 9 months. Biopsies were taken from 5 each of the 15 who did not develop nasal symptoms at 3, 6, and 9 months and from the 10 who developed symptoms at 9 months. A punch biopsy was taken from the lower border of the inferior turbinate, 1 cm behind its anterior end, using 4% xylocaine without adrenalization. The biopsy was divided into 2 parts for electron microscopic study and histochemical study. All symptom-free subjects developed the same changes: glandular hyperactivity, increased acid mucopolysaccharide content of the ground substance, and an increased defensive mechanism due to increased phagocytic activity. The ultrastructural changes and histochemical reactions were similar to those of symptom-free pregnant women. The 10 women developing nasal symptoms showed squamous metaplasia, interepithelial edema, glandular hyperplasia, histiocytic proliferation, and fibrous tissue deposition, all attributed to the action of estrogen. The histochemical reactions were similar to those of chronic hypertrophic nonallergenic rhinitis: increased choline esterase in the subepithelium and stroma; increased acid phosphatase in the epithelium, subepithelium, and around the glands; and increased succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and alpha esterase in the mucus glands.

The human respiratory nasal mucosa in pregnancy. An electron microscopic and histochemical study.

The ultrastructural and histochemical changes in the respiratory nasal mucosa of thirty pregnant females have been studied. Symptoms-free pregnant females, regardless of the duration of pregnancy, showed glandular hyperactivity, increased phagocytic activity, and increased amount of acid mucopolysaccharides in the ground substance. These changes have been suggested to be due to the rise in the levels of female sex hormones during pregnancy. Pregnant females developing nasal symptoms during pregnancy have been proved by electron microscopy and histochemically to be allergic in origin. This allergy, being not due to the hypersensitization of the patient's own sex hormones, may be due to any of the factors previously mentioned.

Urbach-Wiethe disease in O.R.L. practice. (A clinical and histochemical study of the laryngeal lesions).

Urbach-Wiethe disease is a rare disorder, inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. In this work we have studied the clinical data in six patients with well-established UWD. The histopathological and histochemical findings are discussed. Unless the otolaryngologist has a knowledge of the disease, the diagnosis can be missed.

Changes in the lower respiratory epithelia induced by oestrogen intake. An experimental histopathological study.

Fifty-eight male and non-pregnant female guinea pigs with an average weight of 400 gm were used in this work, ten animals as a control group, the remaineder receiving oestrogen in the form of ethanyl oestradiol in a dose of 10 microgram/animal/day. Histopathological studies were carried out after periods of one, two, three, four and eight weeks, and three, six and twelve months respectively. The respiratory mucosa, at the different levels mentioned, showed definite changes. The surface epithelium showed metaplastic changes with mitotic figures, until complete and definite stratifications were reached. The cilia decreased and then disappeared completely, while the mucus-secreting goblet cells showed an initial augmentation in number and increased activity, followed by a gradual decrease in their number, until total disappearance occurred at the stage of stratification in the surface epithelium.

Chronic non-allergic hypertrophic rhinitis. A histochemical study.

The enzymatic changes in chronic hypertrophic rhinitis were studied in 14 patients. The cholinesterase content was increased in the subepithelium and stroma, denoting parasympathetic hyperactivity. Acid phosphatase was increased in the epithelium, subepithelium and around the glands, indicating increased shedding and phagocytic activity. Succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and alpha-esterase were increased in the mucous glands, denoting increase secretory activity, hence increased natural defence mechanism of the nasal mucosa.

The effect of oestrogen on the nasal respiratory mucosa. An experimental histopathological and histochemical study.

An experimental histopathological and histochemical work carried out in thirty guinea-pigs of an average weight of 475 gm. receiving oestrogen in the form of ethynyl oestradiol in a dose of 10 microgram/animal/day and aiming at a study of the effects of oestrogen on the respiratory nasal mucosa. The histopathalogical lesions of the respiratory nasal mucosa were in the form of squamous metaplasia and spongiosis of the lining epithelium, with oedema of the underlying corium, glandular hyperplasia submucosal cellular infiltration, increased vascularity and some vascular changes in the form of endothelial proliferation with intimal thickening. Histochemical enzymatic alterations were in the form of increased succinic dehydrogenase activity in the epithelium as well as in the hyperplastic submucous glands, intensified reaction of the acid phosphatase in the cells of the corium, and the appearance of alkaline phosphatase activity in the apical parts of the cells lining the glands, indicating increased secretory activity. All the changes obtained in the histopathological and histochemical studies can be attributed to hormonal stimulation of the nasal mucosa.

PIP: The histopathological and histochemical effects of 10 mcg/day of eth inyl estradiol (EE) on the nasal respiratory mucosa were studied in 30 female guinea pigs. Histopathological changes observed after treatment were: 1) squamous metaplasia, 2) spongcosis and edema of the corium, 3) glandular hyperplasia, 4) cellular infiltrations, 5) increased vascularity, and 6) vascular changes in the form of endothelial proliferation with intimal thickening. The observed histochemical changes were: 1) increased succinic dehydrogenase activity in the epithelium and hyperplastic submucous glands, 2) an intensified reaction of acid phosphatase activity in the cells of the corium, and 3) alkaline phosphatase activity in the apical areas of the cells lining the glands. All of the observed changes are attributed to the stimulation of the nasal mucosa by EE.