Surfactant-like lamellar bodies in the mucosa of the human nose

Abstract

Specimens from the epithelium on the lateral wall of the human nose were examined under the electron microscope using a lipid and carbohydrate retaining method. In many of the ciliated epithelial cells and in some of the cells in the mucosal glands we identified multilamellated granules. These structures resembled lamellar bodies as found in normal alveoles where they are known to represent surfactant. The effect of phospholipid and the upper respiratory system is unknown but the similarities of these granules suggest to us a surface active function as it seems to play a role for normal Eustachian tube function.