28
Views
19
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

The Mucosa of the Middle Ear and Eustachian Tube in the Young Rat: Number of Granulocytes, Macrophages, Dendritic Cells, NK Cells and T and B Lymphocytes in Healthy Animals and During Otitis Media

, &
Pages 443-450 | Received 28 Apr 1995, Accepted 20 Jun 1995, Published online: 08 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

To gain a better understanding of immune reactions during otitis media, the middle ear and Eustachian tube mucosa were studied as a unit in young rats with respect to the composition of immunocompetent cells before and after middle ear infection via the tube. Using immunohistology, the distribution of NK cells, important for the defence against viral antigens, and of dendritic cells, known to be most capable of antigen uptake, processing and presentation, was determined. Furthermore, the composition of cells of the unspecific immune system (i.e. granulocytes and macrophages) and the specific immune system (i.e. T and B lymphocytes) was studied. Macrophages and dendritic cells were spread over the whole middle ear mucosa, whereas only few NK cells and T and B lymphocytes and almost no granulocytes were detected. in the Eustachian tube mucosa, immunocompetent cells, with the exception of dendritic cells and macrophages, were only rarely seen. After induction of otitis media by severing the soft palate, immunocompetent cells increased in both the middle ear and Eustachian tube mucosa, but surprisingly they were almost absent from the area of the tubal orifice to the middle ear. the results indicate that immune reactions take place similarly in the Eustachian tube and in the middle ear mucosa.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.