Middle ear mucosa regeneration by grafting of artificial mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Artificial middle ear mucosa (AMEM), a sheet of mucosal cells grown on collagen gel populated with fibroblasts, is useful as graft material that is able to promote mucosal regeneration after middle ear surgery.

OBJECTIVES

Regeneration of the middle ear mucosa and pneumatization of the mastoid cavity is critical for good prognosis. We examined whether implantation of AMEM into damaged middle ear cavity would promote mucosal regeneration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AMEM was prepared as described previously using epithelial cells and fibroblasts isolated from the rabbit middle ear. We implanted AMEM into rabbit middle ear from which mucosa had been surgically removed and evaluated its histological and functional recovery 8 weeks later. Three other groups were used for comparison: a normal control group, a mucosa-eliminated group, and a collagen-implanted group.

RESULTS

AMEM grew to be morphologically similar to the native middle ear mucosa. Electron microscope studies showed that implanted AMEM has basal lamina and cilia. AMEM implantation suppressed bone hyperplasia and granulation, leading to better mucosal regeneration. Mucosal gas exchange was also significantly improved after implantation.