Regeneration of nasal mucosa following mechanical injury.

Nasal mucosa is a subject of surgical operation for patients with nasal disorders. However, our knowledge about the regeneration of nasal mucosa after such a mechanical injury is still limited. In this study we investigated the recovery or regenerative process of nasal mucosa in rabbits after mechanical injury on the basis of ultrastructural as well as functional observations. Complete recovery of nasal mucosa was obtained in 5 days if the basal cells and basement membrane were intact. When the total layer of nasal mucosa was injured mechanically, regenerative stratified epithelium covered the defect in 1 week, new ciliated cells appeared in 3 weeks, and complete regeneration was observed at 6 weeks. At 3 weeks when the first appearance of cilia was observed, the beating activity of the cilia was in the normal range. In conclusion, we observed a great regeneration ability following mechanical injury in the nasal mucosa. The process of regeneration in the nasal mucosa after mechanical injury appears to depend on whether the basal cells and basement membrane are intact or not.