H&E
tonsil infections, inflammation, fibrous, hemorrhage, multiple dilated congested blood vessels
INFILTRATION, ENLARGEMENT, INFLAMMATION, HEMORRHAGE, ULCERATION
Examination of H&E-stained sections of the Control group revealed that the palatine tonsils are partially encapsulated lymphoid tissue consisting of dense accumulations of lymphatic tissue located in the mucous membrane. A well-organized stratified squamous nonkeratinized or para-keratinized epithelium (15–20 layers) covered the mucosal surface of the palatine tonsil. The squamous epithelium that forms the surface of the tonsil dips into the underlying CT in numerous places, forming tonsillar crypts. When the surface epithelium traced toward the crypt it started to lose its organization and become thinnest gradually. There are 10–20 crypts for tonsils. The walls of these crypts usually possess numerous lymphatic nodules. Under the epithelium, there is an interfollicular zone in which the lymphoid tissue is arranged into lymphoid nodules with germinal centers. Separating the lymphoid tissue from adjacent structures is a band of dense fibrous CT that acts as a capsule or barrier against spreading tonsil infections. Mucous glands are present in CT, their ducts open on the surface and not in the base of tonsillar crypts, so inflammation of the crypts is common. (Fig. Photomicrographs of palatine tonsil sections stained with H&E showing: (Examination of H&E-stained sections of the tonsils in the Placebo group before vitamin D supplementation indicated thinning of the covering epithelium with multiple areas of hemorrhage or surface epithelium erosions (ulceration). An apparent decrease in the number of lymphatic follicles, some of them had areas of hemorrhage. Sometimes, follicular expansion (enlargement) and irregularity could be seen. An apparent increase in the connective tissue under the epithelium with multiple dilated congested blood vessels within it could be observed. Marked mononuclear cellular infiltration could be seen within this CT tissue. (Fig. In the patients treated with vitamin D, alleviation of all deleterious effects was observed. The examined sections revealed an apparent normal tonsillar structure. The palatine tonsils had restored their regular histological architecture. But there were some congested blood vessels, and the epithelial covering had some vacuolated cells. (Fig. 