Effect of penicillin on formation of fibrous adhesions in acute otitis media

Penicillin reduces eustachian tube gland tissue changes in acute otitis media

OBJECTIVE

The volume of the mucous paratubal glands and the number of the mucus-producing goblet cells in the middle ear and Eustachian tube (ET) are increased after experimental acute otitis media (AOM). The present investigation examines a potential effect of penicillin on the changes in goblet cell density and gland structures of the ET during and after AOM.

STUDY DESIGN

Middle ear inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 50 rats. Two days later, 25 rats were given penicillin V as one daily dose for 5 days. Twenty-five rats received no treatment. Five animals from each group were sacrificed on days 4, 8, 16, 90, and 180. The ET was dissected and decalcified, followed by paraffin embedding, serial transverse sectioning, and PAS/alcian blue staining. The goblet cell density and the paratubal gland composition and volume were determined in every 20th section, using a light microscope.

RESULTS

Penicillin reduced the increase of goblet cell density from day 8 and through 6 months, whereas the increase of the paratubal mucous gland volume was unaffected by treatment.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that penicillin reduces the increase of ET goblet cell density during and after acute otitis media, whereas the paratubal gland volume remains unaffected. An increased mucosal secretory capacity and indicated excessive secretion of mucus may contribute to the deteriorated ET function found after AOM and thus predispose, sustain, or aggravate middle ear disease. This may be prevented by penicillin treatment.

Effect of penicillin on experimental acute otitis media. A histopathological study of goblet cell density, bone modelling dynamics, polyp and adhesion formation

Clinical studies have shown that the effect of antibiotic treatment on acute otitis media is modest. Experimental acute otitis media induces a number of histopathological changes in the middle ear mucosa. Among these are increased goblet cell density, polyp and adhesion formation, as well as massive osteoneogenesis. To investigate the effect of penicillin administration on these histopathological features, we employed a rat model of acute pneumococcal otitis media. Five of 25 rats were sacrificed on days 4, 8, 16, 90 and 180 post-inoculation, preceded by oral administration of penicillin V 100 mg/kg/day, initiated on day 2 and lasting 5 days. Using a light microscope, qualitative and quantitative histopathology of middle ear goblet cell density, bone-modelling dynamics, polyp and adhesion formation was registered and compared with previous studies of untreated animals. Increase in goblet cell density and new bone formation was reduced significantly by treatment, whereas polyp and adhesion formation was unaffected by penicillin administration. It is concluded that penicillin reduces middle ear secretory capacity and new bone formation during and following acute otitis media, conceivably preventing subsequent development of secretory otitis media, leaving polyp and adhesion formation unchanged.

Penicillin reduces new bone formation in acute otitis media

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that acute otitis media alters modeling dynamics in bone tissue structures surrounding the middle ear cavity. Initial resorption is followed by formative activity, which is seen as massive osteoneogenesis. However, neither resorptive nor formative activity occurs in the otic capsule, supporting the theory on existence of a perilymphatic barrier of specialized bone.

STUDY DESIGN

To investigate the effect of penicillin administration on the pathological bone modeling in acute otitis media, we employed a rat model of acute pneumococcal otitis media.

METHODS

Five rats were sacrificed on postinoculation days 4, 8, 16, 90, and 180, preceded by oral administration of penicillin V 100 mg/kg per day, initiated on day 2 and lasting 5 (2) days. Using a light microscope, bone histomorphology was registered and the thickness measured in four well-defined localities, followed by comparison with a previous study of untreated animals.

RESULTS

Measured bone thickness was unaffected by treatment on day 4, but significantly reduced in two localities on day 8 and in all localities on following days of sacrifice. Bone cytomorphology and histomorphology were otherwise unaffected by penicillin administration.

CONCLUSION

Penicillin reduces new bone formation in acute otitis media, leaving other features of histomorphology unchanged.