Mucociliary transport pathway on laryngotracheal tract and stented glottis in guinea pigs

We investigated the laryngotracheal mucociliary transport pathway of guinea pigs in vivo and immediately postmortem. Only intraperitoneal anesthesia was used during the procedure to avoid the disturbance of mucociliary function. Resin particles were used as the marking substance. A microcolpohysteroscope was placed at different levels in the laryngotracheal region for observing the marking particles and recording the transport pattern. The tracheal mucociliary transport flow primarily moved along the posterior wall and both lateral walls in a zigzag trace. Upon reaching the subglottis, the resin particles stayed underneath the vocal cords, and a whirlpool phenomenon developed. The majority of the particles were shifted and directed onto the posterior glottic area. With a short delay, some resin particles crossed over the free edge of the vocal cords and turned posteriorly along the medial upper cordal margin. No mucociliary transport could be observed on the entire upper surface of the true vocal cords, which is covered by squamous epithelium. Occasionally, a few resin particles in the vicinity of the epiglottic root traveled along the aryepiglottic folds toward the posterior commissure. All streams of mucociliary transport finally joined together in the interarytenoid area. After leaving the glottis, the resin particles traveled to the hypopharynx and entered the esophagus through the motion of deglutition. The pattern of mucociliary clearance in the laryngotracheal region was not delayed by stenting.