Background and Objectives : Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, a potent inflammatory mediator,
seems to be important in the pathogenesis media with effusion (OME). The purpose of this study
is to determine the effect of TNF-α antagonist on the outcome of experimental OME induced by
lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in rats.
Materials and Methods : Otitis media was induced by injecting 40㎕(1mg/ml) of Pseudomonas
aeruginosa LPS transtympanically in one group of rats. Other groups were treated with LPS after
transtympanic injection of TNF-α antagonist, soluble TNF receptor type Ⅰ (sTNF RI), 10㎕(0.1㎍
/㎕), and with saline as controls. Twelve hours after inoculation of LPS, otoscopic examination
and aspiration of middle ear effusion (MEE) were done. The temporal bones in each group were
harvested and examined histopathologically and cascular permeability(VP) of middle ear(ME)
mucosa was measured by Evans blue vital dye technique.
Results : The percentage of MEE developing in the LPS and LPS with sTNF RI(combination)
groups were 90％ and 0％, respetively. Histopathologic examination of ME revealed less
inflammation and mucosal thickening, and a significant decrease in the middle ear VP in the
combination group when compared with the LPS group.
Conclusion : Transtympanic administration of TNF-α antagonist appears to suppress the
development of LPS-induced OME. This strudy suggests that TNF-α antagonist along with
antibiotics may have an adjunctive role in the future treatment of MEE.
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