Penicillin reduces eustachian tube gland tissue changes in acute otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
The volume of the mucous paratubal glands and the number of the mucus-producing goblet cells in the middle ear and Eustachian tube (ET) are increased after experimental acute otitis media (AOM). The present investigation examines a potential effect of penicillin on the changes in goblet cell density and gland structures of the ET during and after AOM.


METHODS
Middle ear inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in 50 rats. Two days later, 25 rats were given penicillin V as one daily dose for 5 days. Twenty-five rats received no treatment. Five animals from each group were sacrificed on days 4, 8, 16, 90, and 180. The ET was dissected and decalcified, followed by paraffin embedding, serial transverse sectioning, and PAS/alcian blue staining. The goblet cell density and the paratubal gland composition and volume were determined in every 20th section, using a light microscope.


RESULTS
Penicillin reduced the increase of goblet cell density from day 8 and through 6 months, whereas the increase of the paratubal mucous gland volume was unaffected by treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that penicillin reduces the increase of ET goblet cell density during and after acute otitis media, whereas the paratubal gland volume remains unaffected. An increased mucosal secretory capacity and indicated excessive secretion of mucus may contribute to the deteriorated ET function found after AOM and thus predispose, sustain, or aggravate middle ear disease. This may be prevented by penicillin treatment.
Andersen
Henrik
H
Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gentofte University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thomsen
Jens
J
Cayé-Thomasen
Per
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D010406:Penicillins