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Estimation of the total number of mast cells in the human umbilical cord
Author(s) -
DAMSGAARD T. M. ENGBERG,
NIELSEN B. WINDELBORG,
SØRENSEN F. B.,
HENRIQUES U.,
SCHIØTZ P. O.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1992.tb04009.x
Subject(s) - umbilical cord , wharton's jelly , medicine , fetus , cord , mast (botany) , mast cell , andrology , immunology , pathology , biology , pregnancy , surgery , genetics
The aim of the present study was to estimate the total number of mast cells in the human umbilical cord. Using 50 μm‐thick paraffin sections, made from a systematic random sample of umbilical cord, the total number of mast cells per cord was estimated using a combination of the optical disector and fractionated sampling. The mast cell of the human umbilical cord was found in Wharton's jelly, most frequently in close proximity to the three blood vessels. No consistent pattern of variation in mast cell numbers from the fetal end of the umbilical cord towards the placenta was seen. The total number of mast cells found in the umbilical cord was 5,200,000 (median), range 2,800,000–16,800,000 (n = 7), that is 156,000 mast cells per gram umbilical cord (median), range 48,000–267,000. Thus, the umbilical cord constitutes an adequate source of mast cells for further investigation of these cells in the newborn, e.g. for describing their functional and secretory characteristics and possible clinical relevance in relation to the development of allergic, inflammatory and immunological diseases in infancy and childhood.