Neuro‐epithelial bodies (neuroreceptor or Secretory Organs?) in Human Infant Bronchial and Bronchiolar Epithelium

Abstract

Abstract Tissue sections of 15 lungs from human infants were taken immediately after death. In each case, routine staining methods and Jabonero's silver impregnation, modified by Van Campenhout, were performed. Cathecholamines were traced according to Falck's method. Each of these techniques revealed in the bronchial and bronchiolar mucosa spherical to ovoid groups of cells, which are distinct, from the surrounding epithelium by their light optical and their histochemical properties and which have been named “Neuroepithelial Bodies.” The Neuroepithelial Body bulges into the corium and is built up of cells with a clear cytoplasm and a rounded nucleus. Its apical part protrudes into the bronchial and bronchiolar lumen mostly above the level of the ciliated cell lining and consists of small non‐ciliated cuboidal cells. After silver impregnation, they display a granular silver deposit, especially in the basal cells and appear to be innervated. The technique of Falck reveals a white to yellow fluorescence, especially in the basal area where also the argyrophilia is most marked. The functions of these corpuscular, argyrophilic, innervated and fluorescent bronchial and bronchiolar Neuroepithelial Bodies remain unsettled. Though a separate entity, they seem to be related to the recently reported bronchial Argyrophil, Fluorescent and Granulated AFG (peptide and amine producing?) cells. They might be involved in mucosal bronchial and bronchiolar neurosecretory processes; most probably, however, they are chemo‐, stretch‐, and/or tactile neuro‐receptor organs.