Density of goblet cells in the developing nose

Abstract

On ten foetuses, ranging in age from the 13th to the 30th menstrual week, the entire nasal mucosa was removed, stained by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method, and the density of goblet cells in the various parts of the nose was determined quantitatively. For each locality there was a characteristic density curve, consisting of an increase, a peak, and a decrease. The following factors, influencing changes in density, are discussed: (1) Spread of goblet cells causing the density to increase first in the anterior part of the nose, where goblet cells appear first. (2) Growth of the mucosa whose area increases constantly and regularly. (3) Intensity of goblet-cell newformation which is high during the first weeks, but is then followed by a period of decrease. (4) Lifetime of the goblet cells which is presumably longer in the respiratory tract than in the intestinal epithelium.