Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Structure of the round window membrane.

S Hellström¹, U Johansson, M Anniko

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Umeå, Sweden.

Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Supplementum

|January 1, 1989

Summary

Different middle ear infections cause distinct changes to the round window membrane (RWM). Purulent otitis media significantly thickens the RWM, while serous otitis media causes subtle ultrastructural alterations.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Rehabilitation of adult patients with severe-to-profound hearing impairment - why not cochlear implants?

Acta oto-laryngologica·2019

Same author

Listeria monocytogenes is common in wild birds in Helsinki region and genotypes are frequently similar with those found along the food chain.

Journal of applied microbiology·2007

Same author

In vitro evaluation of the astatinated chimeric monoclonal antibody U36, a potential candidate for treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging·2005

Same author

Expression of EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4 in metastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and base of tongue.

International journal of oncology·2005

Same author

The stromal reaction in basal cell carcinomas. A prerequisite for tumour progression and treatment strategy.

British journal of plastic surgery·2004

Same author

[Check ups after acute otitis media should be revised. What are we looking for and why?].

Lakartidningen·2002

Area of Science:

Otolaryngology
Pathology
Cell Biology

Background:

The round window membrane (RWM) is a critical structure in the middle ear.
Understanding RWM structural changes during otitis media is essential for auditory health.
Previous research has not fully detailed RWM alterations in different types of otitis media.

Purpose of the Study:

To review existing literature on RWM structure.
To investigate and compare structural changes in the RWM during serous otitis media (SOM) and purulent otitis media (POM) using a rat model.

Main Methods:

Literature review on RWM structure.
Induction of SOM and POM in a rat model.
Microscopic examination (light and ultrastructural) of RWMs from control, SOM, and POM groups.

Main Results:

RWM thickness remained similar to controls in SOM but increased fivefold in POM.
POM induced significant epithelial changes, transforming flat epithelium to pseudostratified with ciliated and goblet cells.
SOM showed minor light microscopic changes, but ultrastructural analysis revealed collagen and elastic fiber accumulation in the connective tissue, not seen in normal or POM ears.

Conclusions:

Distinct inflammatory conditions of the middle ear, specifically SOM and POM, induce different structural modifications in the RWM.
Further ultrastructural studies are necessary to fully characterize RWM changes in diseased ears.
The differential impact of these RWM structural changes on permeability requires further investigation.

Related Experiment Videos