Cerumen composition by flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the chemical composition of cerumen by flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.


METHODS
Collected earwax specimens were fractionated into residue and supernatant by means of deoxycholate. This natural bile acid produces significantly better disintegration of earwax in vitro than do presently available ceruminolytic preparations, and also has demonstrated excellent clinical results in vivo to date.


METHODS
The sample for analysis was obtained from a patient with clinical earwax impaction.


RESULTS
The supernatant is composed of simple aromatic hydrocarbons, C5-C17 straight-chain hydrocarbons, a complex mixture of compounds tentatively identified as diterpenoids, and steroids, in particular cholesterol. The residue, on the other hand, produced simple aromatic compounds (including benzenes, phenols, and benzonitriles), C5-C25 straight-chain hydrocarbons, greater relative quantities of nitrogen compounds and phenol, and lesser importance of the (tentatively identified) diterpenoids.


CONCLUSIONS
Through the use of the detergent deoxycholate, squalene and a tentatively identified diterpenoid were revealed to be present in a free, unbound state, whereas some steroids and hydrocarbons appeared to be bound to a macromolecular structure by nitrogen linkages or other bonds. Additionally, this study reintroduces detergents as a viable method of earwax removal, specifically the bile acids.
Burkhart
C N
CN
Department of Biosciences and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.
Kruge
M A
MA
Burkhart
C G
CG
Black
C
C
D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002571:Cerumen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013185:Squalene / Q000032:analysis
D005227:Fatty Acids; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; C009139:pyrolytic carbon; D002244:Carbon; D013185:Squalene