Gerbilline cholesteatoma development Part I: Epithelial migration pattern and rate on the gerbil tympanic membrane: comparisons with human and guinea pig.

Objective: To determine the migration rate and pattern for keratin on the tympanic membrane (TM) of the gerbil and guinea pig in comparison to human data and determine which species is an appropriate model for investigating the relationship of epithelial clearance to cholesteatoma formation.

Study Design And Setting: Ink drops were placed on the TM and their locations plotted daily.

Results: Gerbils demonstrated a radial migration pattern away from the umbo, identical to that reported for humans, although the rate was 0.32 mm/day-3 times the human rate of 0.1 mm/day. Guinea pigs were significantly different from gerbils and humans, with a rate of 0.79 mm/day and a pattern of superior/inferior migration without anterior-posterior movement.

Conclusion: Gerbils more closely resemble humans in rate and pattern of epithelial migration.

Significance: Gerbils represent the most appropriate model for determining the relationship between keratin migration and cholesteatoma formation.