Ultrastructural observation of secretory cells in m ucosa of the guinea pig eustachian tube FENG Lining, JIANG Bin,

Objective To study the secretion ofEustachian tube surfactant, and provide theo- reticalbasis for prevention and treatm ent of the auralbarotraum a. Methods The distribution of secretory cells in m ucosa ofvarious portion ofthe guinea pig Eustachian tube w asobserved by trans- m ission electron m icroscope. Results Three types ofsecretory cells w ere identified: the dark gran- ulated cells w ere predom inantin m ucosa around the tym panic orifice, the m ixed cells w ere predom i- nant in the isthm us portion, w hile the lightgranulated cells w ere predom inantaround the pharyngeal orifice. Surfactant-like lam ellar bodies w ere found in allthe 3 kinds ofsecretory cells. Conclusions The existence ofsurfactant-like lam ellar bodies in the cells lining the Eustachian tube w as dem on- strated.