Ultrastructure of the Middle Ear Mucosa in Experimental Secretary Otitis Media

Abstract

Secretory otitis media was induced in guinea pig by obliterating the Eustachian tube. On the third and fifth day of the experiment, mucosa of the middle ear was removed and studied by transmission electronmicroscopy.
On the third day, the secretory cell showed the following marked changes; widened intercellular spaces, cellulicidal degeneration of the secretory cells, extrusion of the entire cell bodies into the middle ear cavity, growth of the immature secretory cells where the degenerated secretory cells were extruded. On the other hand, little degenerative change of the ciliated cells was noted.
On the fifth day, increase of goblet cells with numerous ligth granules and growth of secretory cells at the widened intercellular spaces was observed.
The extrusion of secretory cells and the neogenesis of goblet cells were characteristic in the early stages of secretory otitis media of the guinea pig.