Goro Mogi

The development of mucosal immunity in guinea pig middle ears

Recent studies have suggested to us that the middle ear is an organ capable of responding immunologically to antigenic substance. However, it is still not known when and how the middle ear starts to provide the immunologic defense system. To clarify this, we investigated immunoglobulin forming cells of different classes and secretory proteins, such as secretory component and lactoferrin, in the mucous membrane of eustachian tube and tympanic bulla of 20 developing and 5 normal adult guinea pigs by the use of a direct immunofluorescence technique. Other organs, such as nose, larynx, trachea, small intestine, spleen and lymph node were also subjected to this investigation. Changes in the middle ear mucosa were also observed after antigenic challenges directly to the tympanic cavity of 6 developing and 39 adult guinea pigs. IgA and IgM forming cells began to appear in the tubal mucosa on 7th postnatal day, wile it was scarcely possible to find IgG1 and IgG2 forming cells in developing guinea pigs. Immunoglobulin forming cells of all classes increased in the middle ear mucosa after the antigenic stimuli. Results of this study showed that local synthesis of IgA, as well as other classes, is latent in the middle ear, that the middle ear of immature animals is vulnerable to antigenic stimuli, and that the middle ear of developing animals possesses potential immune responsiveness.

Laryngeal Secretions: An Immunochemical and Immunohistological Study

This study was designed to investigate properties of laryngeal secretion and secretory activity of IgA in the larynx. Laryngeal secretions were collected by adsorption method on filter paper during laryngomicrosurgery from 20 patients having an inflammatory lesion in the larynx. Contents of IgG, IgA, IgE, secretory component (SC), and lactoferrin in the laryngeal secretions were determined and compared with results of those in nasal secretions, tracheobronchial washings, and serum samples obtained from the same subjects. The laryngeal mucosae of 8 laryngectomized materials for cancer lesion were subjected to immunofluorescence studies including the cytoplasmic SC affinity test. Results of this study indicate that laryngeal secretions are characterized by exocrine secretion, resembling nasal and tracheobronchial secretions in the electrophoretic pattern and immunoglobulins content. The immunofluorescence studies and SC affinity test found that the larynx possesses secretory activity of IgA, particularly in the ventricle and subglottis.

Radioimmunoassay of IgE in Middle Ear Effusions

Fifty-six sample pairs of middle ear effusions and sera obtained from patients with otitis media with effusion were investigated for The IgE antibody activity against mites, using radioallergosorbent test (RAST) which was recently developed as an in vitro allergy test. The IgE concentrations were also determined by radioimmunosorbent test (RIST). Results showed that the IgE antibody activity against this allergen was found in 5 middle ear effusions and 3 sera. Four of 5 patients with the positive RAST test had nasal allergy or signs suggesting allergy. Theree were two middle ear effusions which seemed to be an allergic fluid. However, findings in the present study do not suggest that middle ear effusions result from the direct allergic reaction induced by mites in the mucous membrane lining the middle ear cavity.

Otitis media with effusion: specific antibody activities against exotoxins in middle ear effusions.

Findings of recent immunologic studies on otitis media with effusion indicate that antibodies in middle ear effusions can either originate from serum and/or from local production in the middle ear cavity and Eustachian tube. Determination of specific antibody activity of different immunoglobulin classes in effusions and sera against certain bacterial antigens may aid in a better understanding of the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion. A radioimmunosorbent assay was employed in the present study to determine specific antibody activity against streptolysin or staphylolysin. Although these antibody activities were mainly limited to IgG and IgA class antibodies in effusion as well as in serum, it was also found that SIgA of various types of the effusion possesses the antibody activity against these exotoxins. Findings of this study suggest that a local immunity functions in the middle ear cavity of patients with otitis media with effusions and that bacterial infection may contribute to the development of middle ear effusion in certain cases.

Histiocytic medullary reticulosis with involvement of the nose.

A case of histiocytic medullary reticulosis in which nasal involvement was predominant is reported. The patient was a 33‐year‐old woman with a 14‐month history of unilateral nasal stuffiness. The diagnosis was established by antemortem examination of films of bone marrow aspirates and by clinical features including fever, wasting, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and leukopenia. The histologic examination of autopsy specimens disclosed proliferation of histiocytes, which ingested nuclear debris and erythrocytes, in the necrotic lesion of the nose, sternal bone marrow, liver, spleen, thymus, uterus, ovali, and ileum. On reviewing literature on this subject, such a case of histiocytic medullary reticulosis which predominantly involves the nose is very rare.

An electron microscopic study on the lining mucosa of developing rat vocal cords.

ZusammenfassungUm etwas über den Entwicklungsprozeß der Epithelzellen von Stimmbändern zu erfahren, wurden die Kehlköpfe von 42 fetalen und 36 jungen Ratten mit Raster- und Durchdringungselektronenmikroskopen untersucht. Während sich der Membranteil nicht von dem arytenoiden Teil im pränatalen Stadium unterschied, fehlte das Plattenzellepithel an der Stimmritze. Das innere Epithel der Stimmbänder bestand bei den 15-, 16- und 17 tägigen Rattenfeten aus kubischen und prismatischen Zellen, die eine primäre Zilie aufweisen. Gleich nach der Geburt wurde der Membranteil der Stimmbänder erkennbar, und die Flimmerzellen an den Stimmbändern bildeten sich rasch zurück, während die flimmerlosen Plattenzellen wuchsen und sich ausdehnten. Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung haben gezeigt, daß sich die Epithelzellen des flimmerprismatischen Typs an den Stimmbändern zwischen dem pränatalen und dem postnatalen Stadium in auffälliger Weise verändern und zu flimmerlosen Plattenzellen werden.SummaryTo explain the developmental process of epithelial cells of true vocal cords, larynges obtained from 42 fetal and 36 developing young rats were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Although the membranous portion was indistinguishable from the arytenoid portion in the prenatal stage, there was no squamous cell epithelium on the glottis. The lining epithelium of vocal cords in 15, 16, and 17 day fetal rats was composed of cuboidal and columnar cells which had a primary cilium. Immediately after birth the membranous portion of vocal cords became recognizable, and ciliated cells present on vocal cords retrogressed rapidly while nonciliated squamous cells grew and extended. Results of the present study show that epithelial cells of ciliated columnar type covering vocal cords change remarkably to nonciliated squamous cells between prenatal and postnatal stages.

Thyroid Carcinoma in the Parapharyngeal Space

A case of thyroid carcinoma in the parapharyngeal space is reported in this paper. The patient was a 49-year-old woman with a 6-year history of a progressively enlarging mass in the right lateral portion of the pharynx. The parapharyngeal space was explored by an intra-oral approach and a 3 × 4 × 7 cm ovoid mass was removed. Histologic examination revealed the mass to be a papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid tissue. On reviewing literature on this subject, cases of such parapharyngeal tumors were found to be extremely rare. The etiology and pathogenesis of this occurrence is not known.