RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mucosal epithelium of middle ear and eustachian tube needs hydration to maintain proper amount of moisture. Recent discoveries of various types of water channel proteins (aquaporins ; AQPs) in mucous epithelium suggest that they play critical roles in the regional regulation of water balance. The purpose of this study is to assess the distribution and expression of different subtypes of AQPs in the rat eustachian tube. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the distribution and expression of AQP1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry study in the rat middle ear and eustachian tube samples. RESULTS: The expression of the mRNA of AQP1, 4, and 5 were observed in the rat eustachian tube and middle ear. The bands of AQP1, 4, and 5 were detected at 28 kDa, 31 kDa, and 26 kDa proteins in the Western blot analysis, respectively. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that AQP1 was expressed in fibroblasts at subepithelial portions of the rat eustachian tube and that AQP4 was observed at the basolateral membrane of the ciliated epithelial cells. The distribution of AQP5 in rat eustachian tube was limited to the apical surface of serous gland cells, but all of the epithelial goblet cells were labeled negative. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that there are various subtypes of AQP in rat eustachian tube and that they existed at specific cells and sites. This study may be a preliminary study to determine the possibility of relationship between AQP expression and AQP-related disease in the middle ear and eustachian tube.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Ratas , Acuaporinas , Western Blotting , Oído Medio , Células Epiteliales , Epitelio , Trompa Auditiva , Fibroblastos , Células Caliciformes , Inmunohistoquímica , Membranas , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , ARN MensajeroRESUMEN
The gray vibrissae of Korean males(n =189) between 15 and 75 years old and females(n =111) between-15 and 74 years old who visited the department of otorhinolaryngology, Konkuk university Chungju hospital during 1996 to 1998, were counted for the purpose of estimating approximate age range in individuals of unknown age . The lowest age appearing gray hairs in both sexes was 15-year-old. The Pearson's correlation coefficient in both sexes was 0.490 (p<0.01). The age appearing gray vibrissae in females was slightly earlier than that of males, however, the differences between right and left sides of nasal cavity were insignificant. This method of counting gray vibrissae would be useful to estimate age range in personal identification together with other methods available until now.
Asunto(s)
Adolescente , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Cabello , Cavidad Nasal , Otolaringología , VibrisasRESUMEN
The retroauricular flap has been known as a useful material for reconstruction of nose, auricle, and other facial area. A key point of success using a retroauricular flap in the reconstruction surgery is the preservation of feeding artery. This method also has advantages of co-transplantation of hair, a good color match for the face, and of not having to leave a conspicuous donor site. Two main blood vessels of retroauricular flap are posterior auricular and superior auricular artery. Although the former has been widely used, the retroauricular transposition flap using the latter is easier and time-saving than other techniques in the reconstruction of anterosuperior defect of auricle. Recently, we experienced a case of recurrent preauricular cyst, reconstructed with retroauricular transposition flap using superior auricular artery and report this case with literature review.