Histochemical studies of mucosubstances and lipids in normal human oesophageal epithelium

The histochemistry of lipids and mucosubstances in normal human oesophageal epithelium were studied in biopsies obtained from 24 patients undergoing investigations of the upper gastro-intestinal tract. Neutral fat droplets, 1-2 mum in diameter, were present in all layers, the greatest number being in the functional layer cells. No unsaturated lipids or fatty acids were demonstrable. Much glycogen was present in the cytoplasm of the prickle and functional cell layers as demonstrated by PAS (and diastase digestion) techniques. The intercellular space of the most superficial of the functional cell layer contained neutral and sialic acid-rich acid mucopolysaccharides. These may be important in protecting the epithelium against physical and chemical trauma.