Murine middle ear inflammation and ion homeostasis gene expression.

Hypothesis: Ion homeostasis genes are responsible for the movement of ions and water in the epithelium of the middle ear.

Background: It is not well known to what extent disruption of ion homeostasis is a factor in the accumulation of middle ear fluid during otitis media.

Methods: Balb/c mice were transtympanically injected with heat-killed Hemophilus influenza bacteria.