Mast cell distribution and morphology in human nasal turbinates following decalcification
Volume: 27 - Issue: 2
First page: 81 - Last page: 89
C.M. Trotter - A.S. Carney - J.A. Wilson
DOI: 10.4193/Rhin10.4193/Rhin89.202
Whole inferior nasal turbinates were used to evaluate six different fixatives followed
by decalcification. H and E staining was used to assess general fixation and toluidine
blue and thionin to stain mast cells metachromatically. We show that neutral
buffered formalin or paraformaldehyde give the best overall fixation. Very long times
(six days) are needed in TB to show maximum mast cell numbers; these numbers are
never as high, nor the cells as densely stained as those in undecalcified controls. The
difference in number between the two supports the hypothesis that there is more than
one subset of mast cells in nasal mucosa. The more superficial mast cells have a
smaller size and may be dendritic, with relatively few granules which stain faintly.
Those in deeper situations are often larger, ovoid, very granular and intensely stained.
Rhinology 27-2: 81-89, 1989
To see the issue content and the abstract you do not have to login
Please login to download the full articles
If you do not have a subscription to Rhinology please consider taking one.
