Physicochemical Properties of Human Middle Ear Effusions (Mucus) and Their Relation to Ciliary Transport

Abstract
Middle ear effusions were collected from 10 patients (14 ears) with secretory otitis media. Mucoid samples were pooled and reconstituted to various concentrations of nondialyzable solids. Viscoelasticity was studied using a magnetic microrheometer and compared with mucociliary transport rates measured on the frog palate. Results indicate that the viscoelastic properties of middle ear mucus correlate with mucociliary transport. A transport maximum was found at a 2% nondialyzable solids content. Implications relative to ineffective mucociliary transport in secretory otitis media are discussed.
Funding Information
  • Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Human Communication (5701-NS-057969)
  • Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (NHLI 14271-05)

This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit: