Cytokeratin Expressions of Induced Cholesteatoma in Gerbil

Abstract

Cholesteatoma is characterized by the presence of a keratinizing epithelium in the middle ear. The accumulation of desquamous epithelial cells appears to be a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of the middle ear chlesteatoma. The accumulation of the keratin debris is due to the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of basal keratinocytes. In the present study, we investigated the expression of specific cytokeratins in the experimental cholesteatoma in gerbil to determine whether any difference of differentiation and proliferation between cholesteatoma and normal skin using several specific cytokeratin. Cytokeratin expression patterns of induced cholesteatoma and deep meatal skin were characterized ty the presence of hyperproliferative charateristics and some atypical variations. These suggest that extensive accumulation of keratinous mass in external meatus may changes in cellualr differentiation and proliferation.