Effect of penicillin on experimental acute otitis media. A histopathological study of goblet cell density, bone modelling dynamics, polyp and adhesion formation

Clinical studies have shown that the effect of antibiotic treatment on acute otitis media is modest. Experimental acute otitis media induces a number of histopathological changes in the middle ear mucosa. Among these are increased goblet cell density, polyp and adhesion formation, as well as massive osteoneogenesis. To investigate the effect of penicillin administration on these histopathological features, we employed a rat model of acute pneumococcal otitis media. Five of 25 rats were sacrificed on days 4, 8, 16, 90 and 180 post-inoculation, preceded by oral administration of penicillin V 100 mg/kg/day, initiated on day 2 and lasting 5 days. Using a light microscope, qualitative and quantitative histopathology of middle ear goblet cell density, bone-modelling dynamics, polyp and adhesion formation was registered and compared with previous studies of untreated animals. Increase in goblet cell density and new bone formation was reduced significantly by treatment, whereas polyp and adhesion formation was unaffected by penicillin administration. It is concluded that penicillin reduces middle ear secretory capacity and new bone formation during and following acute otitis media, conceivably preventing subsequent development of secretory otitis media, leaving polyp and adhesion formation unchanged.