Histomorphometric estimation of air cell development in experimental otitis media.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of acute otitis media on the bony development of the growing middle ear air cell system with a reliable and concise stereologic histomorphometric method and to generate a standard baseline growth plot for the middle ear of the rat.

Study Design: The authors conducted a histomorphometric analysis of bullar volume during the entire growth period after early induction of unilateral otitis media.

Methods: The authors conducted undecalcified processing of 27 rat skulls sectioned horizontally at various ages from 20 to 83 days after unilateral transtympanic injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae at 19 days postpartum.