Presence of phospholipidic lamellar bodies on the mucosa of rabbit eustachian tube. Ultrastructural aspects

Ultrastructural and ultracytochemical study of the middle ear epithelium in the chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus

The fine structure of the epithelium lining the tympanic cavity of the chicken was studied by TEM and SEM. In addition, the distribution of nonspecific esterase activity in the epithelium was investigated by TEM. Ultrastructural study revealed the presence of disk-like apical protrusions of the epithelial cells, previously not observed in other cell types. The protrusions contained some cytoplasmic organelles and were characterized by a ring-shaped thickening around their periphery. The ring was made up of a granulo-filamentous material. Our observations clearly indicate the existence of an apocrine secretory mechanism, consisting of a progressive detachment of disk-like protrusions from the apex of the epithelial cells. The ultracytochemical study demonstrated nonspecific esterase activity on the epithelial surface and in the secretory vesicles. We propose that nonspecific esterase is a marker for middle ear surfactant in birds.

Expression and localization of lung surfactant protein B in Eustachian tube epithelium

Surfactant protein (SP) B is an essential component of the pulmonary surfactant complex, which participates in reducing the surface tension across the alveolar air-liquid interface. The Eustachian tube (ET) connects the upper respiratory tract to the middle ear, serving as an intermittent airway between the pharynx and the middle ear. Recently, we described the expression of SP-A and SP-D in the ET, suggesting their role in middle ear host defense. Our present aim was to detect whether the expression of SP-B is evident in the porcine ET. With Northern blot analysis, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridizations, SP-B mRNA was identified and localized in the ET epithelium. The cellular localization of SP-B was revealed with immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy. The protein was found in the secretory granules of epithelial cells and also attached to the microvilli at the luminal side of these cells. The SP-B immunoreactivity of aggregates isolated from ET lavage fluid was similar to that isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We conclude that there are specialized cells in the ET epithelium expressing and secreting SP-B and propose that SP-B may facilitate normal opening of the tube and mucociliary transport.

Surfactant-producing epithelium in the dorsal part of the cartilaginous eustachian tube of mice. Light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopic observations

The nonciliated area in cartilaginous roof tubothelium of 14 conventional mice was examined histologically and classified as a modified transitional respiratory epithelium. On the free cell surface numerous short microvilli were found. On the lower roof surface in the midcartilaginous portion and especially near the pharyngeal orifice, a convoluted pattern of ridges and pits was observed. These structural peculiarities are interpreted as adaptive features, ensuring survival of the cells in a dynamic tubal environment. On the basis of systematic observations of the multilamellar bodies in the cytoplasm resembling the phospholipid lamellar bodies of pulmonary surfactant, which are discharged in the tubal lumen and to be found in the pits, it is suggested that the nonciliated cells are "specialized" surfactant-producing tubocytes. The synthesis of surfactant-precursors starts in the basal layer. Different phases of the secretory process were observed in the neighboring cells. This finding is related to the cell-cooperation constantly releasing the secretory product, and natural cell-turnover. Unlike the previously reported surfactant-producing cells in the lower tubothelium of other species, roof tubothelial cells of mice are morphologically similar to type II pneumocytes.

Presence of an 80 kilodalton protein, cross-reacted with monoclonal antibodies to pulmonary surfactant protein A, in the human middle ear

We report the presence of a middle ear protein that has the same epitope as human surfactant protein A. Monoclonal antibodies (PC-6 and PE-10) against human pulmonary surfactant protein A stained faint granules of the mucosal epithelial cell cytoplasm in the orifice of the eustachian tube immunohistochemically. These antibodies also reacted with middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion by dot immunoassay, and recognized an 80 kd protein by Western blot analysis. These findings indicate that a protein immunoreactive with PC-6 and PE-10 occurs in the mucosal epithelial cells of the middle ear, and is also present in middle ear effusion. It is therefore likely that this 80 kd protein might be secreted from the mucosal epithelial cells to the middle ear cavity.

Surfactant and isoprenaline effect on eustachian tube opening in rats with acute otitis media

Purulent otitis media was induced in 12 middle ears of Sprague-Dawley rats by inoculation of pneumococci type 3. The pressure required to open the eustachian tube was recorded 4 days later and was found to be 3.05 +/- 0.10 kPa (mean +/- SEM), which was 1.08 +/- 0.15 kPa lower than the mean value obtained in a control group of healthy rats (P less than or equal to .001). We also measured the effects of pulmonary surfactant instilled into the middle ear as well as isoprenaline injected intravenously. The presence of surfactant further reduced the pressure opening level by 0.72 +/- 0.05 kPa; this reduction did not differ from that found in the control group (P greater than .8). Isoprenaline reduced the pressure opening level in the control group by 0.20 +/- 0.03 kPa (P less than or equal to .001), and no reduction was found in the rats with otitis media. Although the part played by surface tension-lowering factors in eustachian tube function is still uncertain, such factors apparently also exert an effect in the inflamed tube. However, isoprenaline, which is considered to act by the secretion of surface tension-lowering substances, did not facilitate opening of the eustachian tube in rats with acute otitis media.