Ultrastructural Changes of Mucous Blanket in Chronic Ethmoiditis

Lee, Seung Hoon; Park, Chan; Kim, Woo Jeong; Lim, Jae Shin; Jung, Hak Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: he mucous blanket as a smooth layer riding on the top of cilia in the respiratory mucosa provides the airway fluidity and protection from exogenous materials. However, the depth of the periciliary fluid layer is critical for the interaction between the cilia and mucus as decreased depth of the periciliary fluid layer could disturb the mucociliary transport. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ultrastructural changes of mucous blanket in the inflammatory mucosa of posterior ethmoid.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated the ultrastructural changes of ethmoid mucous blanket using the transmission electron microscope (5 normal posterior ethmoid sinus mucosa and 5 posterior ethmoiditis mucosa).
RESULTS
Normal ethmoid maintained two layers of mucous blanket, but the mucous blanket from posterior ethmoiditis showed decreased periciliary fluid layer and increased mucous layer.
CONCLUSION
Decreased periciliary fluid layer due to increased mucous layer in posterior ethmoiditis cause inactive ciliary beat and therefore can impair mucociliary transport. On the other hand, early drainage of mucus secretion in posterior ethmoiditis may improve the mucociliary transport.