The role of type I allergy in secretory otitis media and mast cells in the middle ear mucosa.

Abstract

To clarify the role of type I allergy in the etiology and pathogenesis of secretory otitis media (SOM), clinical and experimental studies were done. The distribution of mast cells in the tubotympanum of normal and developing guinea pigs was also investigated. Our clinical study revealed that the ratio of complications of nasal allergy (NA) in 222 SOM-young children is 42%, while that of SOM in 259 NA-young children is 35%. These ratios were significantly higher than those seen in control group which consists of 104-children randomly selected from a kindergarten and elementary school. Findings of our animal experiment showed that the eustachian tube is involved, both functionally and morphologically, in type I allergic reactions of the nose. The tubal dysfunction evoked by nasal allergic reactions was transient, not culminating in middle ear effusion (MEE). However, this dysfunction interferes with the clearance of MEE. Our studies suggest that type I allergic reactions of upper respiratory tracts are factors indicative of a chronic state of disease, rather than a cause of SOM. In adult guinea pigs, the density of mast cells was highest in the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube. The density was higher in the adult than in developing guinea pigs. Mast cells in the middle ear mucosa appeared in areas covered by ciliated epithelia or areas richly vasculized. The results of our investigation suggest that mast cells distribute in the tubotympanum responding to continuous stimuli to the tubotympanic cavity.

• Authors: G Mogi, K Tomonaga, T Watanabe, T Chaen
• Journal: Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum (Acta Otolaryngol Suppl) Vol. 493 Pg. 155-63 ( 1992) ISSN: 0365-5237 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 1636417 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin G

Topics

• Animals
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Ear, Middle (immunology, metabolism)
• Eustachian Tube (immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Guinea Pigs
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology, metabolism)
• Male
• Mast Cells (immunology, metabolism)
• Mucous Membrane (immunology)
• Otitis Media with Effusion (etiology, immunology)
• Research Design
• Streptococcal Infections (immunology, metabolism)
• Tympanic Membrane (immunology, metabolism)