Interspecies comparison of mucosal wave properties using high-speed digital imaging.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the vocal fold vibratory characteristics of ex vivo bovine, canine, ovine, and porcine larynges to human male and female vocal fold vibrations to determine the best model organism for laryngeal studies concerning vibratory and kinetic characteristics.


METHODS
Prospective experimental.


METHODS
High-speed videos of phonation were gathered at 4,000 frames per second (fps) in the animal models and human high-speed endoscopy data were gathered at 2,000 fps. Videos were converted into kymograms, and the amplitude, oscillation frequency, and phase difference of vocal fold vibration were measured.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found with respect to frequency, amplitude, or phase difference between canines and humans. Porcines were not significantly different from human females but did have an oscillation frequency significantly different from human males. Ovine vibrational amplitudes were significantly different from humans, and bovine frequency and amplitude differed significantly from humans.


CONCLUSIONS
Canine and porcine larynges are the most appropriate model specimens for laryngeal studies contingent on vibratory or kinetic properties of phonation.
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Michael F
MF
Regner
Mark J
MJ
Robitaille
Jack J
JJ
Jiang
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007734:Kymography; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013552:Swine; D014732:Vibration; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology*