Moran D T, Rowley J C, Jafek B W
Brain Res. 1982 Dec 16;253(1-2):39-46. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(82)90671-0.
The olfactory epithelium of mammals is generally considered to consist of 3 cell types: basal cells, supporting (sustentacular) cells, and ciliated olfactory receptors. We have completed a detailed ultrastructural study of the fine structure of the human olfactory mucosa. In our electron microscopic observations of biopsies of human olfactory epithelium taken from normal, consenting volunteers under local anesthesia, we have consistently observed a fourth cell type, the microvillar cell, located near the epithelial surface. The apical end of these flask-shaped, electron-lucent cells gives rise to a tuft of microvilli that project into the mucus layer lining the nasal cavity. The cell body itself contains bundles of microfilaments, mitochondria, a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, a prominent Golgi complex, electron-dense vesicles that resemble lipofuscin granules, free ribosomes, and occasional cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. A thin, axon-like cytoplasmic process extends from the basal pole of the cell and travels through the epithelium toward the lamina propria. Although there is no physiological evidence that bears upon the function of the microvillar cell, its ultrastructure suggests it may be a bipolar sensory neuron. Based upon morphological and phylogenetic considerations, the authors speculate the microvillar cell represents a second morphologically distinct class of chemoreceptor in the human olfactory mucosa.
哺乳动物的嗅觉上皮通常被认为由3种细胞类型组成：基底细胞、支持（支柱）细胞和带纤毛的嗅觉感受器。我们已完成对人嗅觉黏膜精细结构的详细超微结构研究。在对局部麻醉下从正常、同意参与的志愿者身上获取的人嗅觉上皮活检组织进行电子显微镜观察时，我们一直观察到第四种细胞类型，即微绒毛细胞，它位于上皮表面附近。这些烧瓶状、电子密度低的细胞的顶端产生一束微绒毛，这些微绒毛伸入鼻腔内衬的黏液层。细胞体本身含有微丝束、线粒体、发育良好的滑面内质网、一个突出的高尔基体、类似脂褐素颗粒的电子致密小泡、游离核糖体以及偶尔出现的粗面内质网池。一条细的、轴突样的细胞质突起从细胞的基极延伸出来，穿过上皮层向固有层延伸。虽然没有生理学证据表明微绒毛细胞的功能，但它的超微结构表明它可能是一个双极感觉神经元。基于形态学和系统发育学的考虑，作者推测微绒毛细胞代表了人嗅觉黏膜中第二种形态上不同的化学感受器类型。
