Affiliation:
1. Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York New York U.S.A.
2. Department of Communication Science and Disorders, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U.S.A.
3. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U.S.A.
4. Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York New York U.S.A.
5. Doisy College of Health Sciences Saint Louis University St. Louis Missouri U.S.A.
Abstract
IntroductionGlucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly prescribed for laryngeal indications due to their potent anti‐inflammatory properties. However, GCs effect on vocal fold (VF) epithelial morphology and barrier function following injury is overlooked and may be key to efficacy. In this study, the effects of GCs on epithelial morphology and barrier function were quantified in injured VFs. We seek to increase our understanding of biochemical processes underlying GC mechanisms to refine therapeutic strategies.MethodsMicroflap injury was induced in 65 rabbits. Seven days after injury, animals received bilateral 20 μL intracordal injections of saline, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, or triamcinolone (n = 15 per condition). Five rabbits in each condition were euthanized 1, 7, or 60 days following treatment. An additional five animals served as non‐injured/untreated controls. To quantify transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), 1 mm epithelial biopsies were placed in an Ussing chamber. The contralateral VF was processed for transmission electron microscopy and epithelial depth analysis.ResultsAt 60 days, GC treatment maintained TEER levels similar to non‐injured/untreated controls. However, triamcinolone reduced TEER compared with saline‐treated conditions. Acutely, epithelial hyperplasia typically persisted in all injured VFs. At 60 days, only dexamethasone and triamcinolone increased epithelial depth in injured VFs; all GCs increased epithelial depth compared with non‐injured/untreated controls.ConclusionAcutely, GCs did not alter TEER. Additionally, GCs did not alter epithelial depth compared with saline treatment, indicating alignment with natural healing responses. At 60 days, GCs exhibited varying degrees of TEER restoration and epithelial hyperplasia, possibly due to distinct pharmacodynamic profiles.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 2024
Funder
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders