The Effects of Ostium Reopening and Stress on the Recovery of Maxillary Mucosal Lesion in Rabbits with Maxillary Sinusitis

Lee, Seung Sin; Oh, Seung Jun; Park, Jae Li; Wang, Sun Young; Rhee, Chae Seo; Lee, Chul Hee; Min, Yang Gi

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
There have been many studies concerning histologic changes and effectiveness of specific treatment in the experimentally induced sinusitis model, but there are few studies about natural course of paranasal sinusitis. This study aimed to analyze the natural course of sinusitis and the influence of stress on the natural disease course. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Natural ostia of 120 rabbits were occluded and reopened at 10 days after occlusion. Rabbits were divided into six groups according to duration from reopening to sacrifice. Each group was sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, 12, 19, 26 days after reopening of the natural ostium. Each group was divided into a control and stress subgroups. Radiologic, gross and histologic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Percentage of rabbits showing partial or total haziness was highest at 3 days after reopening in the control subgroup and at 11 days in the stress subgroup. Percentage of the rabbits showing moderate or severe amount of pus in the sinus on gross examination was highest at 4 days in both subgroups. Degree of epithelial loss was most severe at 4 days in both subgroups. Subepithelial thickness was largest and inflammatory cell infiltrations were most severe at 8 days in both subgroups. Although there was a lack of statistical significance, stress subgroups showed more severe gross, radiologic, and histologic findings than those of control subgroups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that maxillary sinusitis is induced by natural ostium occlusion only and is improved with time without any treatment, and that stress might influence the severity of maxillary sinusitis.