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David T. Brown, PhD; Mitchell Litt, D Eng Sc; William P. Potsic, MD

Arch Otolaryngol. 1985;111(10):688-695.

Abstract
• Rheologically active mucus glycoproteins (mucins) were isolated from the middle ear effusions of 282 patients (344 ears) with secretory otitis media. Middle ear mucins from those patients with no other associated pathology were compared biochemically and biophysically with mucins from patients where a specific associated pathology was present. The most striking biochemical variation was total carbohydrate content, which was lowest for mucins derived from purulent secretions in general (30.9%) and mucoid secretions from patients with cleft palates (32%). Furthermore, the carbohydrate content was correlated with the rheologic activity of reconstituted mucins, both in dilute solution and in the gel state. All mucins had high intrinsic viscosities, sensitive to ionic strength and the mucolytic N-acetylcysteine. Transport studies indicated that certain middle ear effusions, particularly those from patients with cleft palates, may not be cleared from the middle ear because of insufficient viscoelasticity.

(Arch Otolaryngol 1985;111:688-695)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Otolaryngology and Human Communication, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania (Drs Brown and Potsic), and the Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania (Drs Brown and Litt), Philadelphia.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 28, 1985.

Reprint requests to Department of Bioengineering, 285 Towne Bldg D3, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr Litt).

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