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Ultrastructural Correlates

Bruce W. Jafek, MD; Pamela M. Eller; Barbara A. Esses, MD; David T. Moran, PhD

Arch Neurol. 1989;46(3):300-304.

Abstract
• Five patients suffering post-traumatic anosmia were studied at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. Each patient underwent psychophysical testing, clinical evaluation, and olfactory biopsy. The biopsy specimens were examined ultrastructurally and were found to vary from normal tissues. The overall appearance of the olfactory epithelium in the post-traumatic patient is disrupted and the receptor cells are distorted. Large numbers of axons are located near the basement membrane and can often be found in bundles throughout the epithelium, extending even to the mucosal surface. Olfactory cilia are rarely seen in epithelia obtained from post-traumatic patients. Bald olfactory vesicles, often containing basal bodies, are frequently observed. We postulate that in these cases, the olfactory epithelium regenerates following head trauma and the receptor cells attempt to send axons centrally. However, the cribriform plate has undergone fibrotic healing and the axons are unable to penetrate it and make contact with olfactory bulb neurons.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 20, 1988.

Read before the Ninth Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Sarasota, Fla, April 30, 1987.

Reprint requests to Box B210, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 4200 E 9th Ave, Denver, CO 80262 (Dr Jafek).

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