Rheological properties of middle ear mucus in relation to goblet cell population in cat

Seventeen mucoid middle ear effusions were collected from the tympanic cavity of 15 cats 1 or 2 weeks after tubal obstruction. Middle ear mucosa was also taken both from the tympanic cavity and bulla, and the number of goblet cells was counted. Both elasticity (G') viscosity (eta') of the mucoid effusion were determined with an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer and compared with goblet cell count. There was a significant correlation between G' and goblet cell population in the tympanic cavity. A similar significant correlation was observed between eta' and goblet cells. The G' and eta' values of the mucoid mucus were much higher than the optimal viscoelasticity for mucociliary transport. Results indicate that the mucus obtained in this study mainly originated from the goblet cells, and that its viscoelasticity was beyond ideal values for mucociliary transport.