Biomaterial Database

A review of the morphology of human nasal mast cells as studied by light and electron microscopy. 1992

A B Drake-Lee, and J Price

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, U.K.

This review discusses the distribution and classification of human nasal mast cells after the use of different fixatives, and some of their staining characteristics, both at the light- and electron-microscopical level. The problems encountered with alcoholic and formaldehyde fixation are discussed as well as the limitations of different stains (including the basic aniline dyes), esterase cytochemistry and immunological techniques. Also, the respective limitations of light and electron microscopy are compared. Cells studied by means of electron microscopy are much more difficult to quantify objectively. It is concluded that classification of mast cells--by means of their morphology, fixation and staining characteristics--into two categories (mucosal vs. connective tissue; T-vs. T/C cells) is simplistic, especially since human nasal mast cells are both heterogeneous and pleomorphic.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008407	Mast Cells	Granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the BASOPHILS, mast cells contain large amounts of HISTAMINE and HEPARIN. Unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood. Mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by the STEM CELL FACTOR.	Basophils, Tissue,Basophil, Tissue,Cell, Mast,Cells, Mast,Mast Cell,Tissue Basophil,Tissue Basophils
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009297	Nasal Mucosa	The mucous lining of the NASAL CAVITY, including lining of the nostril (vestibule) and the OLFACTORY MUCOSA. Nasal mucosa consists of ciliated cells, GOBLET CELLS, brush cells, small granule cells, basal cells (STEM CELLS) and glands containing both mucous and serous cells.	Nasal Epithelium,Schneiderian Membrane,Epithelium, Nasal,Membrane, Schneiderian,Mucosa, Nasal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings
D015550	Cell Degranulation	The process of losing secretory granules (SECRETORY VESICLES). This occurs, for example, in mast cells, basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, and platelets when secretory products are released from the granules by EXOCYTOSIS.	Degranulation, Cell