OBSERVATIONS ON SMALL GRANULE CELLS IN ADULT HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIUM AND IN CARCINOID AND OAT CELL TUMORS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 34  (2) , 202-206
Abstract
Small granule cells are described in the segmental bronchi of adult humans. Rarely, these cells were seen abutting the lumen of the airway. A luminal location was described for these cells in the bronchial epithelium of human fetuses and neonates, and luminal small granule cells may be a rare, although normal component of the adult human bronchial epithelium. The dense core granules of the small granule cells stained intensely with phosphotungstic acid at low pH suggesting that they contain glycoprotein. Granules present in a carcinoid and an oat cell tumor stained similarly. The role of the small granule cell in the genesis of bronchial carcinoid and oat cell tumors is recognized.