Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2010 Mar;3(1):13-17.

Effect of Nebulized Bovine Surfactant for Experimental Otitis Media with Effusion

• Jang CH
• Cho YB
• Oh SE
• Choi JU
• Park H
• Choi CH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of nebulized bovine pulmonary surfactant on experimentally induced otitis media with effusion (OME) in guinea pigs.
METHODS
Twenty guinea pigs were divided into three groups. Four untreated animals served as normal controls. Experimental OME was established in both ears of the remaining 16 animals by a transbullar injection of 10 microL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide in saline. Thereafter, the guinea pigs received nebulized phosphate buffered saline (n=8) or nebulized bovine pulmonary surfactant (n=8). Nebulization was given daily for 7 days. On day 8, all the animals' passive opening pressure (POP) of the Eustachian tube was measured and histopathological observations of the bulla were made by light microscopy.
RESULTS
Nebulized bovine pulmonary surfactant significantly reduced the POP compared to that of saline nebulization. The bovine pulmonary surfactant improved the tubal patency and produced less histopathologcally-evident edematous bullar mucosa.
CONCLUSION
Nebulization of bovine pulmonary surfactant plays an important role in treating otitis media with effusion in guinea pigs. Our results suggest that the chosen nebulized bovine pulmonary surfactant can be of good clinical benefit for treating OME in the future.

Keyword

Pulmonary surfactant; Nebulization; Otitis media with effusion

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blister
Ear
Eustachian Tube
Guinea
Guinea Pigs
Light
Microscopy
Mucous Membrane
Otitis
Otitis Media
Otitis Media with Effusion
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pulmonary Surfactants
Pulmonary Surfactants

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Passive opening pressure (POP) measurement in the guinea pig Eustachian tube. Schematic view of measuring the POP.

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  Fig. 2 Computerized recording of the passive opening pressure (POP). (A) Normal control group, (B) Phosphate buffered saline nebulized group, (C) surfactant nebulized group. The asterisk represents the POP of the nebulization with natural surfactant group.

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  Fig. 3 Effects of nebulization with natural surfactant. The use of nebulized natural surfactant in the guinea pigs with otitis media with effusion produced passive opening pressures (POPs) that were significantly lower than the POPs resulting from the nebulization of phosphate buffered saline (PBS; *P<0.05). LPS: lipolysaccharide.

• 

  Fig. 4 The effects of nebulization with natural surfactant or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) on the subepithelial thickness of the bulla (H&E, ×300). (A1) An edematous subepithelial layer remains after nebulization with PBS. Scale bar, 30 µm. (A2) The subepithelial thickness of the bulla mucosa is significantly reduced after nebulization with natural surfactant. Scale bar, 50 µm. (A3) Appearance of the untreated control. Scale bar, 20 µm. (B) The surfactant nebulized group showed a significantly reduced subepithelial thickness as compared to that of the PBS nebulized group (*P<0.05). LPS: lipolysaccharide.

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