[Effects of simulated nitrogen-oxygen saturation exposure at a water depth of 50m on expression of inflammatory mediators in external auditory canal of rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of simulated nitrogen-oxygen saturation exposure at a water depth of 50 m on the expression of inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the external auditory canal (EAC) of rabbits.


METHODS
Two batches of New Zealand rabbits were exposed to nitrogen-oxygen saturated at a water depth of 50 m. After exposure, the epithelial tissue in the EAC was analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the changes in expression of inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in the EAC of rabbits were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
According to the result of HE staining, more inflammatory cell infiltration, small vascular congestion, and mucosal edema in the EAC of rabbits were observed in the exposure group than in the control group. Additionally, compared with the control group, the exposure group had increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced expression of IL-10 in the EAC of rabbits according to the result of real-time PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
The nitrogen-oxygen saturation exposure at a water depth of 50 m can cause inflammatory injuries in the EAC of rabbits. The mechanism may be associated with increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced expression of IL-10.
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Jianbo
J
Ba
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Mingke
M
Wang
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Wenbin
W
Wu
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Xiongli
X
Xu
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Haiting
H
Chen
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, China.
Ruiyong
R
Chen
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014867:Water; D016753:Interleukin-10; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen