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Frequency of mast cells in the olfactory mucosa of rhesus monkeys

Cell and Tissue Research volume 178, pages 61–71 (1977)Cite this article

Summary

During studies of the olfactory mucosa and its response to the different levels of circulating sex hormones, considerable numbers of mast cells have been observed in its epithelial and subepithelial regions. The number of these cells in the olfactory mucosa of male monkeys differs greatly from that found in females. The frequency of these cells in the olfactory mucosa of females fluctuates significantly during the menstrual cycle. These fluctuations simultaneously correspond to the well known changes in olfactory sensitivity: around ovulation, when the olfactory sensitivity for certain odorants is high, the number of mast cells in the olfactory mucosa also increases.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Zoologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    K. D. Saini &  W. Breipohl

  2. Institut für Anatomie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    K. D. Saini &  W. Breipohl

Authors
  1. K. D. Saini
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  2. W. Breipohl
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Additional information

This research was supported by grants from the Sonderforschungsbereich 114 and partly by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Br. 358/2, Br. 358/4)

The authors are indebted to Mrs. P. Dierkes, Mr. A. Jensen and Mrs. R. Kerschek for technical assistance and to Mr. N. v. Buttlar for critical reading of the manuscript

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Saini, K.D., Breipohl, W. Frequency of mast cells in the olfactory mucosa of rhesus monkeys. Cell Tissue Res. 178, 61–71 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232824

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232824

Key words

  • Mast cells
  • Olfactory mucosa
  • Olfactory sensitivity
  • Ovarial cycle
  • Rhesus monkey