Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the vocal folds elderly

• Grant number: 14/13741-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena Garcia Martins
• Grantee: Regina Helena Garcia Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The process of the senility does not spare the structures of the larynx and presbyphonia is a physiological event related to the aging voice. It starts from the sixth decade of life, with the main vocal symptoms: hoarseness, phonasthenia, voice trembling and decreased of the vocal range. The fundamental frequency of the voices of elderly women becomes lower and of the elderly men becomes higher. Many elderly are still active in the workplace and participate in singing choral, so it is important to keep their vocal performance. The elderly larynx shows increased production of collagen in the lamina propria, lower concentration of elastic fibers and hyaluronic acid and epithelium and muscle atrophic. Most of the studies use conventional or immunohistochemical staining, and there are few studies of scanning electron microscopy and transmission. Objective: To study the larynx of the elderly using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Methods: Eight cadaver larynges elderly (above 75 years) and eight control patients (30-50 years) will be removed during necropsy. After macroscopic examination to rule out possible injuries, the middle portion of both vocal folds will be removed, fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and sent for preparing scanning and transmission microscopy. In the scanning electron microscopy we will analyze the epithelial layer, the lamina propria and muscle layer. In the transmission electron microscopy we will examine the ultrastructure of the epithelium, basement membrane and components of the lamina propria(extracellular matrix and fibroblast population). The images will be photographed and presented descriptively. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONCALVES, TATIANA MARIA; GARCIA MARTINS, REGINA HELENA; PESSIN ADRIANA, BUENO BENITO. Transmission Electron Microscopy of the Presbylarynx in the Process of Voice Aging. JOURNAL OF VOICE, v. 32, n. 1, p. 3-7, JAN 2018. (14/13741-1)