Cultured stellate cells in human vocal fold mucosa.

OBJECTIVES Stellate cells in the maculae flavae, located at both ends of the human vocal fold mucosa, have been considered an independent category of cells. We aimed to isolate and subculture these stellate cells, and to observe their morphological characteristics. METHODS Stellate cells from the maculae flavae and fibroblasts from Reinke's space were cultured in three normal, adult human vocal fold mucosa preparations. RESULTS The subcultured cells from Reinke's space were conventional fibroblasts. The subcultured cells from the maculae flavae were stellate in shape and had cytoplasmic processes. They were larger than conventional fibroblasts, and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm disappeared in the second culture. These stellate cells proliferated by attaching their cytoplasmic processes to each other. During the seven to 10 month subculture period, each cell type continued to exhibit its own morphological characteristics. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that such stellate cells form an independent cell category, which should be considered as a new category of cells within the human vocal fold.