Rheological properties of middle ear effusions from children with otitis media with effusion.

Freshly harvested middle ear effusions (MEE) were collected from children with otitis media with effusion. Both elasticity (G') and viscosity (eta') of the MEE were determined by an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer and compared with transportability of the MEE on mucus-depleted frog palates. A maximum value of transport was obtained at G' of about 20 dyne/cm2 (at 1 Hz), and below this value there was a significant positive correlation between the transport rate and log G'. Above 20 dyne/cm2, the negative correlation between the transport rate and log G' was significant. This shows there is a sharp increase in transport with increase in G' up to 20 dyne/cm2, and at the higher value of G' there is a slow decrease in transport with increasing G'. A similar significant correlation between the transport rate and log eta' was observed.