抄録
Three dimentional ultrastructure of nasal, laryngeal and tracheal mucosa after shunting air way from nasal passages in tracheal fenestration dogs, which we have modified the technique of Whicker et al., were investigated.
In the anterior third of the lateral wall and septum of the nose and the localized region of the subglottic areas, the mucous membranes were composed from various types of the non-ciliated cells such as sqnamons, low cuboidal and columnar epithelia. These areas, so called “inactive areas” were replaced by numerous ciliated cells in eight months after tracheal fenestration. On the other hand, the respiratory mucosa on the opposite side of the tracheal stoma were covered by stratified squamous epithelium in the animal of eigth months postoperatively following the marked proliferation of the goblet cells in that within the first two weeks after the operation. Additionally, same characteristic morphology of the non-ciliated cells as “inactive areas” mentioned above, were observed on the peripheral tracheal mucosa right below the edge of the stoma.
From the results obtained, it would be presumed that these morphological features, namely the epithelial modulation, might be attributed to alteration in air conditioning mechanism affecting the respiratory epithelia after the operation such as absence of the stimulated effects of dust, fumes and microorganismus, high humidity and constant regulation of temperature inside the respiratory tract.
