Ck. Rhee et al., EXPERIMENTAL OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION INDUCED BY PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR, The Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology, 102(8), 1993, pp. 600-605
This study tested the hypothesis that platelet activating factor (PAF)
in the middle ear can induce otitis media with effusion (OME) and tha
t PAF antagonists can prevent PAF-induced OME. An initial trial of 16
mug of PAF was injected into chinchilla bullae, and all ears developed
middle ear effusion (MEE) within 48 hours. Subsequent trials were per
formed to test dose dependency. Interestingly, 1 or 16 mug of PAF caus
ed more MEE and inflammation than did 4 or 8 mug. A dose of 0.5 mug PA
F did not cause MEE. Middle ear effusion from injected bullae containe
d the full spectrum of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products; addit
ionally, more PAF was detected than was injected. Finally, a PAF antag
onist (WEB 2170) injected intraperitoneally prevented PAF-induced OME.
This study demonstrates that PAF injected into the middle ear can ind
uce OME and that PAF antagonists effectively prevent PAF-induced OME.
These findings suggest that PAF plays an important role in the pathoge
nesis of OME.