Topical application of calcium channel blockers to reduce the progression of experimentally induced myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the ability of topically applied calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) to reduce the progression of experimentally induced myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis.


METHODS
Animal model. Experimental prospective study.


METHODS
The study included 25 adult albino guinea pigs that were bilaterally myringotomized and inoculated with a suspension of Streptococcus pneumonia type 3. The right ears were treated with topical application of diltiazem, and the untreated left ears served as the control group. Otomicroscopy and remyringotomy were conducted every week. One animal was sacrificed after 1 week and the remaining at the end of 6 weeks. Temporal bones were dissected, and tympanic bullae were analyzed with light microscopy.


RESULTS
The untreated control ears showed evidence of extensive myringosclerosis on otomicroscopy, and the ears treated with calcium channel blockers did as well although to a lesser degree. Under light microscopy, the lamina propria of both tympanic membranes and middle ear mucosae of the control group exhibited thicker (P < .1 and P < .05, respectively) and larger (P < .01 and P < .01, respectively) sclerotic tissue in comparison with the treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that calcium channel blockers had an influence in the prevention of tympanosclerosis.
Selcuk
Adin
A
4th ENT Clinic, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. sadin27@yahoo.com
Akdogan
Ozgur
O
Ozcan
Ibrahim
I
Giray
Seren Gulsen
SG
Dere
Huseyin
H
Ozogul
Candan
C
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem