Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. In this study, the effects of ALA on the development of myringosclerosis in myringotomized rats were investigated.

MATERIALS and METHODS: The rats were studied in five groups: each group included 6 rats (for a total of 30 rats). After a myringotomy was performed, the groups were administered a 25-mg/kg/day and 50-mg/kg/day dose of ALA for 15 days. The eardrums of the rats were examined histopathologically. We made the histopathological assessment from 0 to 3 on a 4-point scale by scoring the degree of the histopathological changes. In addition, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured in blood samples taken from the rats.

RESULTS: In histopathological examinations, a high dose (50 mg/kg/day) of the ALA-applied group had histopathological results similar to those of the healthy group. In this group, we detected minimal collagen deposition, slight thickness in the lamina propria, and minimal epithelial disruption. In biochemical examinations, the maximum values of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were observed in the group that received 50 mg/kg/day of ALA.

CONCLUSION: In this study, the effect of ALA on myringosclerosis development was observed when a dose of 50 mg/kg/day was administered, and a recovery that showed a nearly intact tympanic membrane occurred at the end of 15 days of use. If an antioxidant were to be added to the treatment protocol of tympanic membrane defects, ALA may be a good candidate.