Effect of glucocorticoids on aquaporin-1 in guinea pigs with otitis media with effusion

The aim of this study was to explore the pathological changes in water homeostasis and the effects of glucocorticoids on aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in guinea pigs with otitis media with effusion (OME). Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect AQP1 in the bullae of OME models, which were induced by reversible Eustachian tube (ET) obstruction. Animals in the dexamethasone (dexa) group received dexa via intraperitoneal injection for 7 days and the pathological changes and expression patterns of AQP1 were compared with those in the OME group. In this study, 22 guinea pigs exhibited effusion 3–7 days after surgery, of which two were sacrificed. Six (60%) animals in the OME group and 9 (90%) in the dexa group presented no sign of effusion on postoperative day 14. AQP1 was detected as an 28-kDa protein in the two groups. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AQP1 was expressed in subepithelial fibroblasts and capillary endothelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the levels of AQP1 protein were markedly higher in the dexa group compared with the OME group. In conclusion, our study emphasized the significance of AQP1 in the pathophysiology of OME and suggests that glucocorticoids may regulate water homeostasis via an AQP1-regulated pathway.