Ultracytochemical localization of the NADPH-d activity in the human nasal respiratory mucosa in vasomotor rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Description of the ultrastructural localization of nitric oxide synthase in the blood vessels of the nasal respiratory mucosa in patients with vasomotor rhinitis.


METHODS
This research was conducted on seven patients--men and women, ages 20 to 45 years--suffering from vasomotor rhinitis and who had undergone surgical therapy for reduction of the inferior turbinates.


METHODS
To study the ultrastructural localization of nitric oxide synthase, NADPH-diaphorase cytochemistry was employed. Samples of the nasal mucosa were obtained from inferior turbinates.


RESULTS
The endothelial cells of the arterioles, capillaries, venules and cavernous sinuses revealed a distribution of the enzymatic activity similar to that found in unaffected subjects. A strong enzymatic activity was recognized in the smooth muscle cells of the cavernous sinuses. The smooth muscle cells of arterioles and venules were generally found to be negative to enzymatic reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the vascular disorders of the vasomotor rhinitis depend, at least in part, from nitric oxide synthase induction in the smooth muscle cells of the cavernous sinuses.
Ruffoli
R
R
Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
Fattori
B
B
Giambelluca
M A
MA
Soldani
P
P
Giannessi
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012223:Rhinitis, Vasomotor / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase