中耳および耳管粘膜におけるリゾチームとラクトフェリンの免疫組織化学的研究

抄録

The distribution of the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme-and lactoferrin-secreting cells in the tubotympanum of normal chinchilla was studied immunohistochemically. The middle ear mucosa contained lysozyme-secreting cells and lactoferrin-secreting cells. The former were localized primarily in the columnar epithelium are and the latter primarily in the cuboidal epithelium area of the mucosa. In the eustachian tube, the lysozyme was localized in goblet cells of the mucosal epithelium and mucous cells of the glands, while lactoferrin was localized in serous cells of the glands. Our results indicate that secretory lysozyme and lactoferrin are secreted by different cell types. This finding is consistent with the concept that antibacterial enzymes are an integral part of the normal mucosal defense system in the tubotympanum.