Background : All tissue components in the nasal mucosa, including the epithelium, goblet cells, excretory glands, and blood capillaries participate in nasal secretory response. In vivo studies have suggested that, of these components, submucosal glands are thought to play an important role in nasal mucus secretion. These studies, however,
are limited in dealing with pure secretory activity of submucosal glands. Therefore, in vitro study using cultured nasal submucosal glands is required to evaluate the pathophysiological mechanisms of nasal mucus secretion. The present study draws on experience obtained from the culture of human submucosal glands isolated from nasal
mucosa.
Materials and Methods : To obtain isolated submucosal gland cells, the uncinate process mucosa was stripped of surface epithelum by stroking the luminal surface with cotton tip applicator and minced into small fragments. By enzymatic treatment, thereafter, the submucosal gland cells were isolated and plated on culture flasks containing media. Using millipore inserts and cover slide, culuted cell was stained AB-PAS to identify that confluent monolayer cells were submucosal gland cell.
Results : The uncinate process mucosa were appropriate for the isolation of submucosal gland cell. An average of 1.2×106 cells were obtained in every preparation of cells. The exclusion ratio of frypan blue was 95%. The isolated cells were strongly stained in AB-PAS, suggesting that cells are of glandular origin. Plated gland cell formed colony on the 3rd day and became confluent artier 5-7 days. The proportion of the stained cells to the total cells decreased depending the duration of cell culture.
Conclusion : We succeeded in isolation and culture of submucosal gland cells which can provide model systems far studying the mechanisms of nasal glandular cell secretion in vivo.
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