Several investigators have tried to make the experimental sinusitis in rabbits, but it is still unclear which method is the best and ideal.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of obstruction of maxillary sinus ostium or streptococcus pneumoniae infection on the maxillary sinuses of normal rabbits.
Unilateral sinus ostia of 12 rabbits were completely occluded by insertion of merocel to middle meatus and bilateral maxillary sinuses of 12 rabbits were infected by injection of streptococcus pneumoniae(107-9/ml). The animals were sacrified at
first,
third, sixth and twelveth week with culture of purulent secretion in the maxillary sinus and then pathology of maxillary sinuses were observed by the light microscopy.
As results, maxillary sinusitis with pus was developed in 10 animals of 12 occluded middle meatus, but pus was collected in only 6 sinuses and mucopurulent discharge in 10 sinuses among 24 streptococcus pneumoniae injected sinuses. Therefore,
complete
obstruction of sinus ostium by merocel was effective to induce the experimental sinusitis in rabbits, but streptococcus pneumoniae may induce the chronic sinusitis in some experimental animals.
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