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. 2011 Oct;121(10):2180-4.
doi: 10.1002/lary.22157. Epub 2011 Sep 6.

Acute stress to excised vocal fold epithelium from reactive oxygen species

Rebecca Alper  1 , Xue Fu, Elizabeth Erickson-Levendoski, Wei Zheng, Mahalakshmi Sivasankar
Affiliations

Acute stress to excised vocal fold epithelium from reactive oxygen species

Rebecca Alper et al. Laryngoscope. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Vocal fold epithelium is exposed to reactive oxygen species from the inhaled environment and from tissue inflammation. The objective of this study was to explore the functional and structural consequences of reactive oxygen species exposure on vocal fold epithelium.

Study design: In vitro, prospective study design.

Methods: Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), a common reactive oxygen species, was utilized in this study. Freshly excised, viable porcine vocal fold epithelia (N = 32) were exposed to H(2) O(2) or sham challenge for 2 hours. Electrophysiology, western blotting, and light microscopy were used to quantify the functional and structural effects of reactive oxygen species on vocal fold epithelia.

Results: Exposure to reactive oxygen species did not significantly alter transepithelial resistance. There was a small, nonsignificant trend for decreased concentration of epithelial junctional complex protein with reactive oxygen species challenge. Minimal changes to the gross structural appearance of vocal fold epithelia were also noted.

Conclusions: The stratified squamous epithelia of the vocal folds effectively defend against an acute reactive oxygen species challenge. The current study lays the groundwork for future investigations on the effects of reactive oxygen species on vocal fold epithelia that are compromised from phonotrauma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Transepithelial resistance (RT) in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) exposure with H2O2. Tissues in sham challenge were exposed to Hanks Balanced Salt Solution. 2 hours of ROS exposure did not significantly change RT as compared to sham challenge (p > .05). Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expression of ZO-1 proteins in vocal fold epithelia following 2 hours of ROS exposure with H2O2. Tissues in sham challenge were exposed to Hanks Balanced Salt Solution. (A) Representative Western Blot. (B) ROS treatment did not significantly alter ZO-1 expression in vocal fold epithelia. Error bars represent standard deviation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Light microphotographs (H&E stain, 40X magnification) of representative vocal fold epithelial samples obtained after 2 hours of exposure to (A) Sham and (B) ROS with H2O2. Ep = stratified squamous epithelium; LP = lamina propria; arrowhead = epithelial shedding; dashed oval = sub-basilar edema or vacuolization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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