Mouse models of induced otitis media.

The mouse has seen limited use as a model for experimental otitis media, due primarily to the small size of its middle ear. However, the genetic resources of this species offer substantial potential benefits. These include detailed genomic information, a wealth of genetic models, and gene arrays that represent virtually all mouse genes. This has led to the development of methods for inducing otitis in mice. These include surgical approaches to the middle ear, documentation of the murine middle ear response to various pathogens and inflammatory factors, as well as characterization of induced otitis media in several mouse strains. The results indicate that induced otitis media in the normal mouse is in most respects comparable to that observed in other animal models and in humans. They further suggest that the considerable genetic resources of this species can be harnessed to increase our understanding of this disease.