Microscopic study of certain age-related structural changes of maxillary sinus lining epithelium in albino rats

Mucociliary clearance is essential to maintain the defense function of the maxillary sinus; however, no literatures described the age changes in its lining epithelium. Therefore, the current work sought to describe the morphological postnatal age-related changes of maxillary sinus lining epithelium in rats using light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. Eighteen albino rats were divided into six groups according to their ages: 2-week-old, 1-month-old, 2-month-old, 3-month-old, adults, and senile rats. One-month-old-rats' group was the first to have recognizable maxillary sinus cavities that were lined by either single flat cellular layer or two distinct epithelial layers. These cells were devoid of microvilli and cilia, none of them showed evidence of differentiation into identifiable cell types. In 2- and 3-month-old rats, the mucosa of maxillary sinus started to be lined with pseudostratified epithelium with apparent increase in both microvilli and cilia. The first indication of goblet cell differentiation was observed in 3-month-old-rats. In the adult rats, the sinuses became completely lined by mature respiratory epithelium. However, in senile rats the epithelium exhibited polyps with clumped cilia and some areas of stratification and desquamation. Goblet cells were scanty and degenerating. The impaired mucociliary components (epithelium, cilia, and goblet cells' mucus) found in young and old ages of the current work might be correlated to human to explain predisposition of rhino-sinusitis in these age groups.