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Sequential analysis of serum proteins in middle ear effusions

A study in rats with experimentally induced serous and purulent otitis media

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 248, pages 63–67 (1990)Cite this article

Summary

Two otomicroscopically well-defined types of otitis media (OM) — one culture-negative serous (SOM) and the other purulent (POM) — were induced in rats by mechanically obstructing the eustachian tube or by splitting the soft palate. Samples of middle ear effusions (MEE) produced and sera were characterized electrophoretically and immunochemically at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after inducing middle ear fluid. The levels of albumin, transferrin, IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA, and secretory IgA (S-IgA) were determined. All proteins increased 3- to 10-fold in the MEE of the SOM group, whereas the concentrations in the POM group were low. Concentrations of some of the MEE proteins were seen to increase during the course of SOM, while concentrations in the POM group appeared to diminish. The protein content of the MEE in SOM and POM changed dynamically during the observation period. These alterations differed between the two types of OM, reflecting the differing mechanisms that produce the MEE content. These findings indicate that sequential characterization of effusion material in animal OM models may elicit information which might allow staging of this complex disease clinically.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Departments of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    U. Johansson & S. Hellström

  2. Departments of Anatomy, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    S. Hellström

  3. Departments of Physiological Chemistry, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    T. Stigbrand

  4. Department of Otolaryngology, Central Hospital, Gamla Karleby, Finland

    L. -E. Stenfors

Authors
  1. U. Johansson
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  2. S. Hellström
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  3. L. -E. Stenfors
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  4. T. Stigbrand
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Additional information

Offprint requests to: U. Johansson, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sundsvalls sjukhus, S-85186 Sundsvall, Sweden

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Johansson, U., Hellström, S., Stenfors, L.E. et al. Sequential analysis of serum proteins in middle ear effusions. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 248, 63–67 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00240221

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00240221

Key words

  • Otitis media
  • Middle ear effusions
  • Serum proteins
  • Transferrin
  • Immunoglobulins