Surfactant in middle ear effusions.

Evidence from animal studies suggests that substances that lower surface tension are present in the middle ear cleft, where they may facilitate opening of the eustachian tube. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not surface-tension-lowering substances are present in middle ear effusions. Aspirates from children and adults with secretory otitis media--both serous otitis media and mucoid otitis media--were analyzed by means of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Phospholipids, the major components of pulmonary surfactant, were present in appreciable quantities in all aspirates. Differences in total phosphate content and phospholipid composition were found when effusions from adults and children were compared.