prostaglandin-d2 and Otitis-Media-with-Effusion

Middle ear effusions (MEEs) from 78 children (98 ears) with otitis media were examined for products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, including leukotrienes B4, C4, D4, and E4 and prostaglandins D2 and E2, by high-performance liquid chromatography. Leukotrienes B4 and D4 were recovered most frequently: 59% and 54%, respectively. Leukotriene B4 was found in highest concentration, 1.29 +/- 3.46 ng/0.1 mL. The concentrations of leukotrienes B4 (p less than .03), (4 (p less than .01), and E4 (p less than .02) were significantly higher in culture-positive than in culture-negative MEEs. Neither the concentration nor the type of AA metabolite correlated with bacterial species isolated, chronicity of effusion, age of subject, or consistency of MEE. These data suggest that the AA metabolites are synthesized relatively frequently during otitis media of childhood. Leukotriene B4 is the most frequently detected AA metabolite in MEEs and is highly associated with the presence of viable bacteria.

Topics: Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Bacteria; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dinoprostone; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leukotriene B4; Leukotriene E4; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Otitis Media with Effusion; Prostaglandin D2; SRS-A

Although previous studies have shown that prostaglandins (PGs), leukotrienes (LTs), and other arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites play an important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME), the exact role of each AA metabolite in OME is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of several individual AA metabolites alone or in combination and AA itself on experimental otitis media in chinchillas. Normal chinchillas were inoculated daily with normal saline, PGE2, LTC4, LTC4 + PGE2, and AA through the superior bullae over 7 days. Animals were followed by otoscopy and tympanometry, samples of middle ear effusion were collected for biochemical assay, and temporal bones were processed for histopathology. The highest number of ears that developed OME was in the group inoculated with PGE2 + LTC4. The degree of inflammatory change was more pronounced in groups injected with LTC4 than any other group. The findings of this study suggest that eicosanoids PGE2, LTC4, and AA alone or in combination inoculated into the middle ear can induce OME.

Topics: 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Chinchilla; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Leukocytes; Leukotriene B4; Mucous Membrane; Muramidase; Otitis Media with Effusion; Prostaglandin D2; SRS-A