Changes of the nasal mucosa in altered airflow illustrated by blind quantitative histology.

In 20 rabbits one nostril was closed surgically for 4, 10, 16, 20, 60 and 90 days, and thereafter the mucous membranes from the open and closed sides of the nose were investigated. Anteriorly on the open side a process of repair started as early as the 4th day after ciliary damage. This process consisted in hyperplasia of basal cells, displacement and gradual desquamation of ciliated cells and goblet cells, differentiation of basal cells into ciliated and goblet cells. On the 16th day the epithelium was again ciliated. As a result of a continued abnormally increased airflow new damage to the cilia occurred and a new cycle was initiated, so that on the 30th and 90th days the epithelium was again ciliated. Even though the epithelium is 'squamous-like' in some phases, there is no question of a transformation into squamous epithelium. On the closed side anteriorly there is increased secretory activity in the epithelium. Posteriorly blind quantitative histology showed no differences between the open and the closed side, or between 'treated' and control material.