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Pre- and post-induction probiotic administration in experimental otitis media with effusion: effects on effusion
Coşkun Ozdemir1, Hatice Celik1, Selda Kargin Kaytez1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Background:
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common inflammatory middle ear disease, and the efficacy of available medical treatments remains controversial. Probiotics have emerged as a potential non-antibiotic therapeutic strategy.
Aims/Objectives:
To compare the efficacy of methylprednisolone, montelukast, and Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) in the treatment of experimentally induced OME model.
Material And Methods:
Thirty-five male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 7). OME was induced by intratympanic histamine injection. Groups comprised control, methylprednisolone, montelukast, post-induction probiotics, and pre- and post-induction probiotics. Effusion resolution was assessed otomicroscopically, and submucosal inflammatory leukocyte infiltration was evaluated histologically.
Results:
Effusion resolution differed significantly among groups (p < 0.001), reaching 78.6% with methylprednisolone and 85.7% with pre- and post-induction probiotics, compared with 0% in controls. All treatment groups showed significantly lower submucosal inflammatory leukocyte counts than controls (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in inflammatory leukocyte counts was detected between the combined pre- and post-induction probiotic group and the methylprednisolone group in this exploratory study.
Conclusions And Significance:
L. reuteri exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in this histamine-induced OME model. Combined pre- and post-induction probiotic administration was associated with greater effusion resolution than post-induction treatment alone, although longer total exposure may have contributed to this finding. These findings support further investigation of probiotics in OME but do not establish equivalent efficacy to methylprednisolone.
