A new experimental model of acquired cholesteatoma.
OBJECTIVE
Cholesteatoma is a recurrent disease that is difficult control by otologists. This study aims to develop an experimental model of cholesteatoma that is easy to reproduce, using latex to induce the inflammatory reaction and propylene glycol as the foreign body in the middle ear.


METHODS
We used a new experimental model in which an intentional perforation was performed on the tympanic membrane of rats, followed by the introduction of a latex biomembrane.


METHODS
A control group was submitted only to perforation of the tympanic membrane. Propylene glycol with latex was used in experimental group 1 and latex alone in experimental group 2. The rats were killed during the eighth week and their tympanic bullae were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of the animals in group 1 and 90% in group 2 developed a cholesteatoma. No formation of cholesteatomas or inflammatory tissue occurred in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of inflammatory cells may provoke the production of cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8) and growth factors, which, together with the latex biomembrane, which is known to contain a protein that favors vascular growth, may cause chemotactic migration of the squamous epithelium from the external auditory meatus to the middle year of the rat, causing a cholesteatoma. The induction of an experimental cholesteatoma in rats with latex and latex plus 50% propylene glycol was effective, representing an excellent experimental model. The theory of epithelial migration in the genesis of cholesteatomas was confirmed by our observations in rats. The latex induced an acute and chronic inflammatory reaction when in contact with the mucosa of the middle ear.
Massuda
Eduardo T
ET
Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, São Paulo, Brazil.
Oliveira
José Antonio
JA
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation; D007840:Latex; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation
D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D007840:Latex; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D019946:Propylene Glycol