An experimental model of chronic rhinosinusitis in rabbits without bacterial inoculation

Abstract

PURPOSE:Evaluate and compare two different experimental techniques of maxillary sinus ostium occlusion using N-butyl cyanoacrylate in developing chronic histological findings without the inoculation of pathogenic bacteria among rabbits. METHODS:In a randomized study, sixteen New Zealand rabbits were assigned for occlusion of the right maxillary sinus through a transmaxillary approach or through the roof of the nasal cavity. The contralateral sinus served as a control. After 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed for blinded histopathological analysis of the maxillary sinus mucosa. RESULTS:Histopathological changes consistent with CRS were found in eight (100%) of the maxillary sinuses approached transmaxillary and three of those through the roof of the nasal cavity (37.5%), p 0.008 and 0.250, respectively, comparing with the control side. Chronic mucosal changes were significantly better induced using the transmaxillary approach (p 0.026). CONCLUSION:It is possible to induce a model of chronic sinusitis among rabbits with transmaxillary sinus occlusion without bacterial inoculation. This model can be replicated for future cellular studies.

Animal models for inflammatory mucosal disease and their potential for studying the microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis

“…The species studied include sheep (39)(40)(41)(42) , pigs (43) , rodents such as guinea pigs (44,45) , rats (46) and mice (47)(48)(49) as well as ferrets (50) and rabbits (33,51,52) . One study also examined the suitability of mink as an animal model for studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa sinusitis (53) .…”

“…Ideally, a minimally invasive and reversible approach towards sinus occlusion is favoured so that the sinuses maintain their natural anatomical structures. This is achieved by obstructing the sinus using nasal packing material, such as Merocel®, a polyvinyl alcohol sponge (Medtronic), instead of surgical procedures as described by Migliavacca et al (52) . Lastly, the animal model should be unilateral, so that the contralateral side can be used as a control.…”

“…In the first group the maxillary sinus ostium was obstructed through the maxillary sinus and in the second group the middle meatus was occluded through the roof of the nasal cavity. After 12 weeks, CRS was observed in all animals from the first group whereas only 37.5 % of the second group developed CRS(52) . In summary, most strategies for the development of CRS in rabbit models have included mechanical occlusion in combination with either microbial inoculation or antigen administration(30,33,51,54,78) until Cho et al (2017) developed a rabbit model of CRS by blocking the middle meatus without inoculating any antigens or microbes which is explained in detail in the next chapter.…”

“…Gocea et al (2013) subsequently applied the combined Merocel® and PMA technique to induce CRS with a 100 % success rate, with no inflammation in the control sinuses(30) . In contrast,Migliavacca et al (2014) refrained from using packing material and performed a more precise but highly invasive surgical occlusion on the sinus. In the first group the maxillary sinus ostium was obstructed through the maxillary sinus and in the second group the middle meatus was occluded through the roof of the nasal cavity.…”

Characterization of a novel, papain‐inducible murine model of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis

“…Animal models of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis have also been established in rabbits and sheep . Rodents have a markedly different sinonasal anatomy when compared with humans, making rabbit and sheep models an attractive option to model sinus disease.…”