Abstract
We investigated the expression levels of MUC5AC in endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion (OME) in the rat using competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the morphology of middle ear mucosa using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experimental OME in the rat was induced after middle ear instillation of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Middle ear mucosa were obtained at 0 h, 12 h, Day 1, Day 3, Day 7 and Day 14 and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCRs were then performed for the identification of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and submandibular mucin 1 expression, followed by competitive PCRs for MUC5AC