Ciliary Beat Frequency of Middle Ear, Eustachian Tube and Other Upper Respiratory Tract in Mice

Jung, Ha Won; Oh, Seung Ha; Yu, Won Seok; Lee, Kang Soo; Mo, Ji Hun; Jeon, Sang Jun; Kim, In Sang; Kim, Chong Sun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze ciliary beat frequency (CBF)and ciliary morphology of the middle ear bulla and the upper respiratory tract in mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifteen mice with 37-42 gram weight were dissected and specimens were taken from the middle ear bulla, the eustachian tube, the inferior turbinate, the nasopharynx, and the upper trachea. The CBF of each specimen was measured using a video-computerized analysis system and the morphology of cilia was also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
RESULTS
The measured CBF ranged from 9.38 Hz to 13.59 Hz, and there were no significant differences in the CBF values among the middle ear bulla, the eustachian tube, the inferior turbinate and the nasopharynx, except for the upper trachea. The mean CBF value of the upper trachea was 11.6 Hz, which was significantly lower than those of other parts. SEM showed that the cilia of the upper tracheal region were shorter than those of other parts.
CONCLUSION
The CBF value of the middle ear bulla is similar to those of other parts in the upper respiratory tract except for the upper trachea. In the upper trachea, the CBF is lower and ciliary lenghth of epithelium is shorter than those of other parts.