Goblet cell density in the eustachian tube in prematures and in newborn infants

In order to determine the goblet-cell pattern in a completely normal mucosa, the entire mucosa from the Esutachian tube of 14 prematures and newborns was dissected and stained in toto by the PAS-alcian blue whole-mount method. Goblet cells were counted in many localities and the results analysed statistically. The density proved very low, but uniform in the entire Eustachian tube, 10 cells per field, corresponding to 565 cells per mm2. These findings were compared with those from a normal adult autopsy material in which the density in the pharyngeal orifice was high, but gradually decreased towards the tympanic orifice where it was as low as in prematures. It is concluded that a marked postnatal increase in the density in the tubal orifice is abnormal, whereas a physiological increase in density may be expected in the pharyngeal part of the tube. One premature, intubated for three days, exhibited a very high density in the Eustachian tube, presumably as a consequence of sudden tubal occlusion.