[Ultrastructure changes of the olfactory epithelium of the patients suffering from dysosmia caused by the chronic sinusitis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the ultrastructural changes of olfactory epithelium (OE) in patients suffering from dysosmia caused by chronic sinusitis.


METHODS
The specimens of olfactory epithelium were obtained from 35 patients operated for chronic sinusitis accompanied by dysosmia. According to the results of light microscope (LM) examination, the OE was divided into three groups by the types of pathological changes: normal, atrophic and respiratory epithelium metaplasia(REM). Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of each group.


RESULTS
Under the LM, the surface ultrastructure of the OE showed some abnormal changes: (1) surface microvillus of the supporting cells disappeared; (2) olfactory vesicle changed their shape due to vacuolization; (3) disappearance of canaliculus structure in the olfactory vesicle; (4) the olfactory cilia changed the shape or reduced; some of the reduced cilia underwent metaplasia. The ultrastructural changes of atrophic OE included: (1) minor and moderate atrophy: the organelles and the membrane-limited electron dense vesicles on the upper section of the supporting cells obviously decreased or disappeared, even underwent vacuolization. The basic cell degenerated; (2) serious atrophy: the turbidity of the cell structure, even double cell structure, the nuclei of the cell aggregated as the plaque and vesiculose change or karyopyknosis. As for the cytoplasm, there were the dilation of the ERs, turgidity of the mitochondrion, the disarrangement, diminution and vacuolization. Fasciculate cilia were distributed separately in the REM group.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a positive relationship between the atrophy degree and the degree of the abnormal ultrastructural changes of the OE. The ultrastructural changes of OE in patients suffering from dysosmia caused by chronic sinusitis may provide reference for assessment of the treatment of dysosmia.
Wang
N
N
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. wangnaya@263.net
Cheng
J
J
Sheng
R
R
He
F
F
Zhang
M
M
Pan
Z
Z
Zhang
X
X
Wang
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications*