Quantitation of the secretory cells of the ferret tracheobronchial tree.
The tracheal epithelium of the ferret has few goblet cells while sero-mucous submucosal glands are present in large numbers throughout the length of the trachea and bronchi. The epithelium consists mainly of ciliated cells and of dark cytoplasmic non-ciliated cells that sometimes contain secretory granules. Any 'respiratory tract fluid' secreted into the ferret trachea is probably mainly glandular in origin. The epithelium contains neutrophils and a few mast cells and eosinophils. Nerve fibres are virtually absent from the epithelium, and this may be associated with a lack of the cough reflex from the ferret trachea. From a morphological point of view, the ferret trachea may well make a good model for the study of submucosal gland secretions.
Department of Physiology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
N P
NP
Robinson
L
L
Venning
H
H
Kyle
J G
JG
Widdicombe
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002335:Carnivora / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure