[The effect of vitamin E on histopathologic healing and lipid peroxidation levels in experimentally induced traumatic tympanic membrane perforations].

OBJECTIVES To examine the favorable effects of vitamin E on tympanic membrane perforations induced mechanically in guinea pigs. STUDY DESIGN Bilateral tympanic membrane perforations of 1.8 mm were induced in 40 guinea pigs. The animals were randomly divided into two groups equal in number. One group remained untreated, while the other was administered vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day) through intramuscular injections. On days 1, 3, 5, and 7, five animals in each group were randomly sacrificed. Histopathologic changes in the tympanic membranes were evaluated and malondialdehyde levels were determined. RESULTS Significant increases were observed in epithelial thickness, fibroblastic proliferation, and neovascularization in the study group (p<0.05). Epithelial thickness was found to be increased in both groups beginning from the first day; however, this increase was more rapid in the study group. Although malondialdehyde levels showed significant increases on days 3 and 5 in both groups (p<0.05), they returned to the first day values in vitamin E-treated animals on day 7, whereas controls still maintained high malondialdehyde levels. CONCLUSION Vitamin E hastens the healing process of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.