Experimental Animals
16 healthy male Wistar albino rats weighing between 210-304 grams that were shown to have healthy outer ear canals and tympanic membrane in otoscopic examination were used in our study. All of the experimental animals were housed in appropriate cages under standard environmental conditions (room temperature 22oC-24oC, %50 relative humidity and 12 hour periods of light-dark). The animals could access water and traditional laboratory diet until they were sacrificed.