FitzGerald J E, Green G G, Birchall J P, Pearson J P
Department of Physiology Sciences, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1989 Apr;115(4):462-8. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1989.01860280060018.
The properties of pooled thick and thin middle ear effusions, from children with otitis media with effusion, were studied by viscometry. Mucus glycoproteins were responsible for effusion viscosity. Their percentage by weight in thick and thin effusions was 25% and 8.2%, respectively. N-acetylcysteine and 0.2 mol/L of mercaptoethanol caused a 39% viscosity drop in a 5-mg/mL glycoprotein solution, whereas S-carboxymethylcysteine had no effect. Treatment of thick effusions with 0.2 mol/L of mercaptoethanol initially caused a viscosity decrease followed by a gradual increase. Higher reducing agent concentrations (0.5 mol/L) caused a more rapid decrease followed by a rapid increase, presumably by causing nonspecific aggregation of reduced protein molecules. These results suggest that the concentration of and the time that a mucolytic is in the middle ear would be of prime importance in achieving the desired decrease in viscosity.
通过粘度测定法研究了患有中耳积液的儿童中耳厚、薄积液混合样本的特性。粘液糖蛋白是积液粘度的成因。它们在厚、薄积液中的重量百分比分别为25%和8.2%。N-乙酰半胱氨酸和0.2mol/L的巯基乙醇可使5mg/mL糖蛋白溶液的粘度下降39%，而S-羧甲基半胱氨酸则无作用。用0.2mol/L的巯基乙醇处理厚积液，起初会导致粘度降低，随后逐渐升高。更高浓度的还原剂（0.5mol/L）会导致更快的粘度降低，随后迅速升高，推测这是由于还原蛋白分子的非特异性聚集所致。这些结果表明，溶粘蛋白剂在中耳中的浓度和作用时间对于实现所需的粘度降低至关重要。
