The effect of lycopene on experimental myringosclerosis

Myringosclerosis is a disease characterized with hyaline degeneration and calcification of collagen structure in lamina propria of tympanic membrane. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of lycopene on formation of myringosclerosis from histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects. The fifty-six healthy tympanic membrane of 28 guinea pig were involved in study. Objects were separate into 4 groups randomly. In group I (control group), no treatment was implemented after application ofmyringotomy. In group II(where lycopene was given after myringotomy), 10 mg/kg lycopene was implemented orally through catheter by dissolving in water once a day after 1st day. This implication was continued for 7 days. In group III (where lycopene was given before and after myringotomy), lycopene implementation started one week before myringotomy with same dose and method for 7 days. By giving lycopene right after myringotomy at 8th day with same dose and method, it was continued for 7 days. In group IV (where lycopene was given before myringotomy), lycopene was given with same dose and method for 7 days one week before myringotomy. Myringotomy was implemented at 8th day. No lycopene was given after myringotomy. 5 tympanic membrane was excluded because of death of 1 guinea pig in each of group I and II and an ear infection in group II during study. The fourteen days after myringotomy, auto-microscopic myringosclerosis evaluation was performed and scored. After decapitation, bullas of guinea pigs were dissected and put into 10% formaldehyde solution. For histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation, sections were taken and scored from aspects of thickness, scleroses, inflammation and collagen-IV accumulation. Within this study, it was seen that myringosclerosis formation significantly decreased in groups treated with lycopene in proportion to control group (p<0.05). Also it was seen that the thickness, inflammation, scleroses and collagen-IV accumulation significantly decreased in treated groups in proportion to control group(p<0.05). It was determined that the implementation of lycopene after or before the myringotomy made no difference in terms of myringosclerosis formation. As a result; lycopene which is a strong antioxidant is a good option for decreasing the myringosclerosis. Keywords: Myringosclerosis, lycopene, antioxidant