Localization and proliferation of lymphatic vessels in the tympanic membrane in normal state and regeneration.
We clarified the localization of lymphatic vessels in the tympanic membrane and proliferation of lymphatic vessels during regeneration after perforation of the tympanic membrane by using whole-mount imaging of the tympanic membrane of Prox1 GFP mice. In the pars tensa, lymphatic vessel loops surrounded the malleus handle and annulus tympanicus. Apart from these locations, lymphatic vessel loops were not observed in the pars tensa in the normal tympanic membrane. Lymphatic vessel loops surrounding the malleus handle were connected to the lymphatic vessel loops in the pars flaccida and around the tensor tympani muscle. Many lymphatic vessel loops were detected in the pars flaccida. After perforation of the tympanic membrane, abundant lymphatic regeneration was observed in the pars tensa, and these regenerated lymphatic vessels extended from the lymphatic vessels surrounding the malleus at day 7. These results suggest that site-specific lymphatic vessels play an important role in the tympanic membrane.
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. Electronic address: takenori@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp.
Takenori
T
Miyashita
James L
JL
Burford
Young-Kwon
YK
Hong
Haykanush
H
Gevorgyan
Lisa
L
Lam
Nozomu
N
Mori
Janos
J
Peti-Peterdi
D000818:Animals; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014945:Wound Healing; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
Cholesteatoma; Lymphatic vessels; Prox 1; Regeneration; Tympanic membrane