Goblet cells in the developing human nose.

In a material of 56 foetuses and prematures, in the 9th to the 30th week, the nasal mucosa was removed in toto and stained with PAS-alcian blue, PAS, and the osmium whole-amount methods. The development, spread, distribution, and density of goblet cells were studied. Goblet cells start forming anteriorly in the nasal vestibule in the 13th week, spreading backwards according to a given, constant pattern in the course of the subsequent week. By the 30th week the goblet cells are present throughout the respiratory region, but there are marked differences in density between the various areas. The highest density was found anteriorly and inferiorly on the septum and lateral wall, and also in the inferior and middle meatuses. On the conchae the density is less, at the junction to the olfactory region least. As a whole, the density is still very low in foetuses and prematures, and it must increase very considerably around the time of birth. The differences in density found in the present study are probably present also, to some extent in children and adults. Formation of goblet cells is the final link in the process of differentiation into respiratory epithelium, instituted 4 weeks earlier with the formation of ciliated cells.