title: The mechanism of ceruminolysis.
abstract: In a previous study comparing the efficacy of a selection of commonly used ceruminolytics, the authors noted that aqueous-based preparations, and in particular solutions of sodium bicarbonate, were more effective in disintegrating cerumen than most organic-based preparations. In that study, the authors also observed that not only had the wax truly disintegrated following exposure to the aqueous-based preparations, but also that a marked degree of swelling of the wax spheres had occurred with these preparations. In this paper the mechanism of ceruminolysis was investigated by means of a number of commonly available histological techniques. Our findings show that desquamated sheets of corneocytes are the major constituent of cerumen plugs and provide the structural framework of the wax bolus. Ceruminolytics work by hydrating the keratin cells of these sheets of desquamated stratum corneum and subsequently inducing keratolysis, with disintegration of the wax.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Robinson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hawke
authors: A
authors: A
authors: MacKay
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Ekem
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Stratis
mesh_terms: D000983:Antipyrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010367:Arachis; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002571:Cerumen / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002724:Chlorobutanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D009821:Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D009821:Oils; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010455:Peptides; D010938:Plant Oils; C061943:acetic acid, antipyrine, benzocaine, glycerol, polycosanol drug combination; C016297:arachis oil, chlorobutanol, paradichlorobenzene drug combination; C033026:trolamine polypeptide oleate-condensate; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D007633:Keratins; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012964:Sodium; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002724:Chlorobutanol; D005990:Glycerol; D000983:Antipyrine; D001566:Benzocaine