title: The effect of external stimuli on cultured rat middle ear epithelium. I. Extracellular calcium concentration.
abstract: The effect of the extracellular calcium concentration on serially cultured rat middle ear epithelium was investigated with phase contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, as well as by a method to induce cornified envelope formation with a calcium ionophore. The results show that calcium concentration affects cell morphology and terminal differentiation. Furthermore, a role in the proliferation rate, secretory activity and migration seems likely. Since the extracellular calcium concentration may fluctuate locally during osteoresorption or osteodeposition, both of which occur during otitis media, this concentration might be an important factor in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic otitis media.
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Van Blitterswijk
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hesseling
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grote
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002452:Cell Count; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium