title: Effect of local use of L-carnitine after myringotomy on myringosclerosis development in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effect of local and intraperitoneal administration of L-carnitine on the prevention of experimentally induced myringosclerosis, and to compare treatment efficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Albino-Wistar rats (48 ears) were bilaterally myringotomised and divided randomly into four groups: group one received no treatment, group two received intraperitoneal L-carnitine, group three received local L-carnitine, and group four received both intraperitoneal and local L-carnitine. On the 15th day after treatment, tympanic membranes were harvested and evaluated histopathologically for myringosclerotic plaque formation, fibroblastic proliferation, tympanic membrane thickness and new vessel formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group one tympanic membranes showed extensive thickness, and the incidence of myringosclerosis and fibroblast proliferation were greater than in groups two and four. There were statistically significant differences in tympanic membrane thickness between groups three and four, and in myringosclerosis incidence and fibroblast proliferation, comparing groups two, three and four.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myringosclerosis development was significantly reduced in rats receiving myringotomy plus intraperitoneal L-carnitine. Intraperitoneal L-carnitine administration prevented fibroblastic proliferation and tympanic membrane thickening (both of which cause further tympanic membrane destruction), thus reducing myringotomy-associated morbidity. Local L-carnitine administration had limited effectiveness in this experimental setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Trabzon Kanuni Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. erkanvuralkan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuralkan
authors.forename: S Alicura
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tokgöz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koybasioglu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Besalti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects; D063371:Myringosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine