The role of the middle ear mucosa in secretory otitis media

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Middle ear effusion may be formed by passive transfer of fluid from the serum to the middle ear cavity or it may be due to local production. There is much evidence for local production and some work was presented to support this claim. Protein concentrations and enzyme activities of serum and human middle ear fluid (MEF) were compared. The total protein concentration in MEF was significantly higher than in serum. The concept that reabsorption of water could be responsible for somewhat increased protein concentrations in MEF as compared to serum cannot be considered as a valid explanation of serum origin. In electrophoresis there appeared in MEF much material that was absent from serum. Specimens of serous MEF were subjected to immunodiffusion tests. Each of these fluids formed 1 specific precipitation line with immune serum, but never more than 1 line. If the middle-ear epithelium in secretory otitis really secretes various proteinic substances into the middle-ear cavity, then these substances must be found histochemically in the epithelium. Mucosal biopsies were immediately frozen with liquid N2 and later examined as cryo sections and stained accordingly. The amount of enzyme activity seen in the epithelium corresponded closely with the activity figures in mucoid secretion.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: