Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T16:07:22.339Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mast cell ultrastructure in the adenoids of children with and without secretory otitis media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Adrian Drake-Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Jacqueline Price
Affiliation:
Department of Electron Microscopy, Royal United Hospital, Bath.
R. Varley
Affiliation:
Department of Electron Microscopy, Royal United Hospital, Bath.
*
Mr Adrian Drake-Lee, Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TH.

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the differences in morphology of the mast cells from the adenoid in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) and those from children with recurrent tonsillitis. Tissue for electron microscopy was prepared in the standard manner and between three and 10 blocks were examined for each child. All the mast cells with nuclei were photographed and the condition of the granules noted. The number of electron dense granules in each cell was assessed on a scale between zero and 10. Sixteen unselected children with OME were compared with 19 children with recurrent tonsillitis. There were no obvious differences in the degree of degranulation between the two groups although there was more vacuolation than reviously described in the normal nose but less than in those patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Allergy and mast cell reactions do not seem to predispose to OME. It was concluded that the adenoids are not the ideal tissue in which to study normal mast cells.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bain, D. (1981) Secretory otitis media and grommets. British Medical Journal 282: 1316 (letter).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Behrendt, H., Rosenkrantz, U., Schmutzler, W. (1978) Ultrastructure of isolated human mast cells during histamine release. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 56: 88192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caulfield, J., Lewis, R., Hein, A., Austin, K. (1980) Secretions in dissociated human pulmonary mast cells. Journal of Cell Biology 85: 299311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clementsen, P., Jensen, C., Hannoun, C., Norn, S. (1988) Influenza A virus potentiates basophil histamine release caused by endotoxin-induced complement activation. Examination of normal individuals and patients with intrinsic asthma. Allergy 43: 9399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collins, M., Church, M., Bakhshi, K., Osbourne, J. (1985) Adenoid histamine and its possible relationship to secretory otitis media. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 99: 685691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drake-Lee, A., Price, J. (1991) Ultrastructure of nasal mast cells in normal subjects and patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 105: 10061013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Galli, S., Dvorak, A., Dvorak, H. (1984) Basophils and mast cells: insights into their biology, secretory patterns and function. In Progress in Allergy (Ishizaka, K., ed.); Basle, pp 50141.Google Scholar
Gold, W. (1986) Mechanisms of antigen-induced reactions in skin and lung. Respiration 50 (suppl. 2): 4256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kjellman, N., Synnerstad, B., Hansson, L. (1976) Atopic allergy and immunoglobulins in children with adenoids and recurrent otitis media. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 65: 593600.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maw, A. R. (1983) Chronic otitis media with effusion (glue ear) and adenotonsillectomy: prospective randomised controlled study. British Medical Journal 287: 15861588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Naclerio, R., Proud, D., Kagery-Sobotka, A., Lichtenstein, L., Hendley, J., Gwaltney, J. (1988) Is histamine responsible for the symptoms of rhinovirus colds? A look at inflammatory mediators following infection. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal 7: 218222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palva, T., Taskinen, E., Lethinen, T., Ramsay, H., Bjorksten, F., Hackman, P. (1991) Mast cells and histamine in adenoid tissue and middle ear. Acta Otolarvngologica Stockholm 111: 349353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phillips, M., Knight, N., Manning, H., Abbott, A. (1974) IgE and secretory otitis media. Lancet II: 11761178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trotter, C., Orr, T. (1973) A fine structure study of some cellular components in allergic reactions. Clinical Allergy 3: 411425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Cauwenberge, P., Derycke, A. (1983) The relationship between nasal and middle ear pathology. Acta Otolaryngologica Belgica 37: 830841.Google ScholarPubMed