[Nasal surfactant: biochemical and histological study].

The existence of a Surface Tension Lower Substance (STLS) in the lung and the Eustachian tube was established a few decades ago. The histological and physiological characteristics of the epithelium of the whole respiratory tract, from the nasal cavities to rhinopharynx and bronchiolar segments, induced the Authors to search for such a similar substance also in nasal secretion. To this purpose nasal secretions were studied using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to determine the presence of phospholipids. In addition, ultrastructural examination of the nasal mucosa was performed looking for lamellar body-like structures of 2nd degree pulmonary cells.