LIPID ANALYSIS OF LAVAGE SAMPLES FROM THE EQUINE GUTTURAL POUCH (AUDITORY TUBE DIVERTICULUM)

The guttural pouch is a large, ah-filled diverticulum of the auditory tube, present in the horse and other species. Lipid analysis of saline lavage from the equine guttural pouch has demonstrated the presence o f phospholipids and neutral lipids in amounts that are variable but co nsistently greater than in any other species described. A stain specif ic for choline-containing phospholipids has demonstrated the presence of phospholipid-containing vesicles only within the cells of subepithe lial, seromucoidlike glands, suggesting that these cells incorporate p hospholipids in their secretions. The functional significance of surfa ce-active agents in the guttural pouch may he different from that prop osed for other species because of the unique anatomical design and the different proposed functions of the guttural pouch.