[Investigation of the nasal mucosa in perennial allergic rhinitis with SEM and TEM].

The ultrastructure of 20 PAR nasal mucosa specimens was investigated with both transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The cilia were found to be defective or desquamated in advanced cases. Cilia in PAR may be divided into three types: normal, adherent and exfoliative types. It had been found that changes in cilia morphology and its function varied with the duration of the disease. The nasal mucosa showed inflammatory cell infiltration and increase in number of glands. Plasma cells full of secretory granules were found both in the epithelial layer and lamina propria. Capillaries, arterioles and venules showed various degrees of pathological changes. The cholinergic nerve endings had increased in number at the expense of the adrenergic nerve endings.