Extending the chinchilla middle ear epithelial model for mucin gene investigation

ObjectivesTo investigate the expression of recently identified human mucin genes in an in vivo model of the chinchilla middle ear epithelium (CMEE).MethodsCMEE was harvested, RNA was extracted and primers were designed for RT-PCR to assess for expression of mucin genes Muc6, Muc17 and Muc18. Further sequencing of these genes was also accomplished.ResultsMucin genes Muc6, Muc17 and Muc18 was assessed and found to be identical to the expression in human and mouse MEE.ConclusionThis study further characterizes mucin gene expression in the CMEE and provides additional sequence data for chinchilla middle ear genes. The concordance of this gene expression data to that of both the human and mouse models further demonstrates the utility of this animal model in OM investigations.