Vocal Fold Injury Produces Similar Biomechanical Outcomes in Male and Female Rabbits

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Objective Sex differences in response to trauma and physiologic stressors have been identified in numerous organ systems but have not yet been defined in the larynx. The objective of this study was to develop an endoscopic vocal fold injury model in rabbits and to compare structural and functional outcomes between male and female subjects. Study design Basic science study. Methods Two male and two female rabbits underwent unilateral endoscopic cordectomy. Animals were intubated with a size 3-0 neonatal endotracheal tube, and laryngoscopy was performed with a 4 mm Hopkins rod telescope. While visualizing, a 2 mm cupped forceps grasped and resected the mid-membranous portion of the right true vocal fold. Larynges were then harvested after 8weeks. Excised larynx phonation with high-speed videography and kymography was used to assess vibrational quality. Tissue elastic (Young's) modulus was measured by indentation. Results Injured larynges phonated with fundamental frequencies between 237-415 Hz. In both males and females, the scarred vocal fold exhibited an increased Young's modulus compared to the contralateral nonoperated vocal fold. There were no notable differences in glottal closure pattern or vocal fold oscillation symmetry between sexes. Conclusion We have demonstrated a model for vocal fold scarring in rabbits. Vibrational and structural outcomes were similar between the e

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.