pulmonary neuroendocrine cell
pulmonary neuroendocrine cell
"A neuroendocrine cell that is part of respiratory epithelium of the lung and is involved in the sensory detection of environmental stimuli, including hypoxia, nicotine and air pressure. Ultrastructurally, this cell type is characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic dense core granules, which are considered the storage sites of amine and peptide hormones. Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells are innervated and appear as solitary cells or as clustered masses, localized at airway bifurcation sites, called neuroepithelial bodies that can release serotonin in response to hypoxia and interact with sensory nerve terminals. Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells also function as reserve stem cells that repair the surrounding epithelium after injury."