EFFECT OF S-CARBOXYMETHYLCYSTEINE ON THE CLEARANCE OF MIDDLE-EAR EFFUSION - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

The therapeutic effect of S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) on otitis me dia with effusion was investigated by use of immune mediated otitis me dia with effusion (OME) induced in chinchillas. The S-CMC was administ ered daily to individuals in two different doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg /kg) for 2 weeks after the induction of immune-mediated otitis media. The severity of OME was evaluated by observation of the tympanic membr ane under a surgical microscope, by tympanogram, and by histologic fin dings of the middle ear mucosa. Results of the study showed that the o ral administration of S-CMC at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight is m ore effective than at a dose of 100 mg/kg in the clearance of middle e ar effusions in experimental OME. An autoradiographic study using C-14 -S-CMC revealed that orally administered S-CMC is rapidly absorbed by the digestive tract and transported to the tubotympanum via the circul ation. The uptake and excretion by secretory cells were apparently gre ater in activated secretory cells. However, S-CMC does not act on the infiltrating cells to prevent the release of chemical mediators such a s histamine and prostaglandin E2. This finding suggests that prophylac tic use of S-CMC may not be anticipated.