Morphology of nerve endings in vocal fold of human newborn.
Sensory receptors are distributed throughout the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Laryngeal sensitivity is crucial for maintaining safe swallowing, thus avoiding silent aspiration. Morphologic description of different receptor types present in larynx vary because of the study of many different species, from mouse to humans. The most commonly sensory structures described in laryngeal mucosa are free nerve endings, taste buds, muscle spindles, glomerular and corpuscular receptors. This study aimed at describing the morphology and the distribution of nerve endings in premature newborn glottic region. Transversal serial frozen sections of the whole vocal folds of three newborns were analyzed using an immuno-histochemical process with a pan-neuronal marker anti-protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). Imaging was done using a confocal laser microscope. Nerve fiber density in vocal cord was calculated using panoramic images in software Morphometric Analysis System v1.0. Some sensory structures, i.e. glomerular endings and intraepithelial free nerve endings were found in the vocal cord mucosa. Muscle spindles, complex nerve endings (Meissner-like, spherical, rectangular and growing) spiral-wharves nerve structures were identified in larynx intrinsic muscles. Nervous total mean density in vocal cord was similar in the three newborns, although they had different gestational age. The mean nerve fiber density was higher in the posterior region than anterior region of vocal cord. The present results demonstrate the occurrence of different morphotypes of sensory corpuscles and nerve endings premature newborn glottic region and provide information on their sensory systems.
Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: janainagsleite@hotmail.com.
Janaina
J
Gonçalves da Silva Leite
Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: marialuzetecosta@gmail.com.
Maria Luzete
ML
Costa Cavalcante
Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: fvfechine@yahoo.com.br.
Francisco Vagnaldo
FV
Fechine-Jamacaru
Patology Department, Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: margarida.pompeu@gmail.com.
Margarida Maria
MM
de Lima Pompeu
Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: josealberto_leite@hotmail.com.
José Alberto Dias
JA
Leite
Farmacology Faculty, Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: dulcemarianc4@gmail.com.
Dulce Maria
DM
Nascimento Coelho
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Ceará Federal University, Professor Costa Mendes St, 1608, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceara, Zip Code: 60430-140, Brazil. Electronic address: marcosrabeloufc@gmail.com.
Marcos
M
Rabelo de Freitas
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000502:physiology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000294:innervation*
Confocal; Infant; Larynx; Microscopy; Nerve endings; Premature; Vocal cords