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Effects of low humidity on the rat middle ear
Author(s) -
Lovejoy Hugh M.,
Frederick McGuirt W.,
Ayres Paul H.,
Wallace Hayes A.,
Coggins Christopher R. E.,
Sagartz John
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199409000-00001
Subject(s) - otitis , humidity , middle ear , effusion , relative humidity , eustachian tube , medicine , surgery , geography , meteorology
Secretory otitis media is common in the winter, and the possible risk factors are numerous. This study examines the effect of low humidity on the middle ear using a Sprague‐Dawley rat model: 23 test rats housed for 5 days in a low‐humidity environment (10% to 12% relative humidity) and 23 control rats housed at 50% to 55% relative humidity. Microscopic ear examinations were graded for otitis media with effusion (OME) before testing and on test days 3 and 5. The mucosa of the middle ears and eustachian tubes was examined histopathologically. Significantly more effusions were observed in the low‐humidity group on test days 3 ( P = .003) and 5 ( P = .01), but no intergroup histopathologic differences were noted. We conclude that a low‐humidity environment contributed to the development of OME in the test animals, and that low‐humidity warrants further investigation as a contributing factor in childhood middle ear disease.