부산대학교 도서관

The differentiation of the ventricular mucosa of larynx in human fetuses has been studied only by light microscopy. So, we studied this mucosa in human fetuses (at gestational ages from 9th to 21st week) by transmission electron microscopy, and could disclose more detailed features of cytodifferentiation of this mucosa. These results and the review of the literatures lead to the following conclusions: 1. We could demonstrate for the first time that primary cilia appear in the ventricular mucosa of larynx at the 9th and 10th week of gestation. 2. Ciliated cells began to appear at the 9th week of gestation which was earlier than the previous reports by light microscopy, moreover we could get the details of ciliogenesis using electron micro-scope. 3. Goblet cells, although immature, appeared at the 16th week of gestation as the same time of previous reports. After the 18th week of gestation, secretory granules belonging to eccrine type could be found for the first time by ultrastructural level. 4. Glycogen granules in non-ciliated cells decreased in parallel with the cytodifferentiation, suggesting that they provide a source of energy necessary for the cell differentiation.