Connections between the brain and the nasal mucosa
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterising the anatomical connections between the subarachnoid space and nasal mucosa across the cribriform plate
IRAS ID
312685
Contact name
Roxana O Carare
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
12555, Establishment Licence Human Tissue Act
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
There is evidence from animal experimental studies as well as human radiological studies that there is a direct communication between the subarachnoid space and the nasal mucosa. This has profound implications for neuroimmunology.
The study would be a post mortem histological study of the olfactory bulb and tract area, cribriform plate area and the superior nasal turbinates.
The cadaveric specimen will be harvested, fixed with formalin 10% for 24 hours then placed into EDTA in 1:40 concentration solution for 2 weeks to allow the de calcification of the cribriform plate bone.
Half of each specimen will be sectioned in sagittal slices and the second half would be cut in axial slices, to allow the investigation of the length of the hypothetical tract and to allow investigating the accompanying structures of the tract, respectively.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
22/WA/0131
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion