Experimental surgery of the nose, anteroposterior changes of the mucosa on altering the air-flow.

In 20 rabbits one nostril was surgically closed and the mucous membrane studied 4--90 days after the operation. The density of goblet cells was determined anteriorly and posteriorly on whole mounts, epithelial changes on serial sections from 4 different localities on the septum. Anteriorly on the open side damage to the cilia initiated epithelial processes of repair, viz. hyperplasia of basal cells, transformation of these cells into columnar cells, and differentiation into mucous and ciliated cells. On the 16th day the epithelium was again columnar and ciliated. As a consequence of continued trauma new cycles were initiated, but not even after 90 days was there any squamous epithelium. In the middle and posteriorly on the septum no changes were demonstrated, indicating a marked, but gradual decrease in the anteroposterior direction of the influence by the air-flow upon the mucosa. On the closed side there was increased secretory activity and normalization of the epithelium which was changed most anteriorly in normal rabbits.