Labyrinthitis secondary to experimental otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of labyrinthitis in a model of otitis media.


METHODS
Morphologic study in 20 Wistar rats in which otitis media was induced by transbullar inoculation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with obstruction of the eustachian tube.


RESULTS
Seventy percent of rats showed vestibular signs. Histologic changes ranged from nonaffected labyrinths to suppurative labyrinthitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Dissemination of infection probably occurs through round window membrane. A thinner round window membrane typical of rodents would be the reason for a more severe clinical and morphologic picture in rats when compared to human beings.
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Autonoma University of Madrid, Spain. atrinid@yahoo.es
Almudena
A
Trinidad
Rafael
R
Ramírez-Camacho
Jose Ramon
JR
García-Berrocal
Jose María
JM
Verdaguer
Rosa
R
Daza
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology; D007762:Labyrinthitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications*; D038781:Otoscopy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000473:pathology*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology