Experimental sinusitis in a rhinogenic model.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to determine the optimal sinusitis induction period and to examine microbiological and histopathological changes of sinusitis recovery stage in a rhinogenic sinusitis model.


METHODS
A synthetic sponge was inserted into the right-side nasal cavities of rabbits. The sponge was impregnated with a Streptococcus pneumoniae strain in group 1 and with sterile saline solution in groups 2 and 3. After the fourth day of sponge insertion, sinuses were examined by coronal computed tomography scans at two-day intervals until any radiological evidence of sinusitis was observed. When sinusitis was detected radiologically, five rabbits each from groups 1 and 2 were killed for histological examination. To determine the recovery period of sinusitis, sponges were removed from the rest of the rabbits in groups 1 and 2. Rabbits were selected randomly and killed on the 15th and the 30th days of the recovery period, immediately after radiological examinations. Group 3 was considered a sham group.


RESULTS
Sinusitis induction was performed in all rabbits in groups 1 and 2 until the 8th day. After the sponges were removed, inflammation persisted until the 30th day of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
In a rhinogenic sinusitis model, although histological features of sinusitis were demonstrated, further studies are required to standardize this model and to examine whether or not the studied bacterial strain spreads from nasal cavity into sinus.
Kara
Cüneyt Orhan
CO
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, 20100 Denizli, Turkey. cokara@yahoo.com
Cetin
Ciğdem Banu
CB
Demirkan
Neşe
N
Sengül
Mustafa
M
Topuz
Bülent
B
Pinar
Hilmi Safak
HS
Pakdemirli
Emre
E
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D011161:Porifera; D011817:Rabbits; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae