Deviation with increasing age in histologic appearance of submucosal glands in human eustachian tubes

74 tubal specimens from the temporal bones of 37 autopsy cases of various ages (8 fetuses, 12 children, 4 young adults, 36 middle-aged adults, and l4 elderly adults) were examined histologically to study the deviation with increasing age in the submucosal glands of Eustachian tube. The tubal glands consisted of acini (terminal secretory portions) and three duct systems (intercalated, striated and excretory ducts). Cytologically, they were of the mixed type with crescents. It was observed that the mucous acinar cells were predominant in children, as compared with the serous acinar cells. These latter increased prominently in middle age, accompanied by a decrease in the number of mucous cells. Among the elderly, both types of acinar cells decreased and tended to be atrophic. On the other hand, oncocytic changes of the ductal epithelia were discovered in the pharyngeal part of Eustachian tubes of subjects over 60 years old. These aging changes may play an important role in the pathophysiology of patency and excretory processes of the Eustachian tube.