Properties of a Novel Animal Model of LPR.

BACKGROUND

Few satisfactory animal models of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is available. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may be associated with the pathogenesis of LPR injuries and laryngeal carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES

To establish an animal model of LPR and to explore the related pathological changes and cytokine expression in the vocal cord tissue.

METHODS

Twenty rabbits were divided into experimental and control groups. Dilatation of the upper and lower esophageal sphincter were carried out in the experimental group. The pH of the pharynx, pathological, and ultrastructural changes of the laryngeal tissue, and expression of IL-8 and VEGF were compared between the experimental group and controls.

RESULTS

pH monitoring results and the dilated intercellular space of the vocal cord mucosa showed that the experimental group developed laryngopharyngeal reflux. There were significant differences in the immunohistochemical staining scores of both IL-8 (P = 0.015) and VEGF (P = 0.007) between the experimental and control groups in the vocal cord tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully established a model of LPR, showing histopathological and ultrastructural changes consistent with the disease. The expression of IL-8 and VEGF may increase during the pathogenesis of LPR.