Stereological estimation of number and volume of pulmonary neuroepithelialbodies (NEBs) in neonatal hamster lungs

The number and volume of pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs) of 1- and 4-week-old hamsters were estimated using unbiased stereological principles and systematic sampling techniques. For comparative purposes, volume estima tions were also made in the carotid body, the parathyroid gland, and the ad renal medulla. A significant decrease was found in the total number of NEBs , immunoreactive for CGRP, between 1 and 4 weeks. Individual as well as cum ulative NEB volume also decreased significantly. The cumulative NEB volume in 1-week-old hamsters was in the same range as the volumes of the carotids and parathyroids in the same animals. The postnatal decrease of the NEB nu mber suggests that the NEBs are of primary potential importance in the neon atal stage, when they may complement the chemoreceptor function of the caro tid bodies, which are relatively inactive at birth. Since the cumulative NE B volume (at least at the age of 1 week) is equal to that of the carotid bo dies and the parathyroids, their physiological function may be of similar i mportance. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:00-00, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.