# Investigating the role of systemic dehydration in vocal fold wound healing

> **NIH NIH F31** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The role of hydration in maintaining vocal fold health is still not fully understood. But it is generally believed that
increasing hydration can optimize vocal function while decreasing hydration can negatively impact vocal
physiology. Dermal literature suggests that systemic dehydration may prolong inflammation and delay re-
epithelization of injured skin tissue. This proposal broadly questions whether similar suboptimal outcomes are
also observed in vocal fold tissue after systemic dehydration as compared to euhydration (normal hydration
state). If these negative outcomes are observed, there may be adverse implications for restoration of vocal
function following damage from injury, surgery, or phonotraumatic behaviors. Therefore, we will investigate the
vocal fold wound healing processes of acute inflammation, extracellular matrix proliferation, and re-
epithelization in dehydrated and euhydrated male rats following vocal injury. Systemic dehydration will be
achieved through an ecologically-valid water restriction protocol for 11 days (N = 15). Conversely, euhydrated
rats (n=15) will be provided water ad-libitum for 11 days. Vocal injury will be induced in all rats. Vocal fold
wound healing outcomes will be measured on the 7th day following vocal injury. Specific Aim 1 will measure
the gene and protein expression of inflammatory mediators in dehydrated and euhydrated rats
following vocal fold injury. We hypothesize an upregulation of inflammatory mediators (TGF-β1 and IL-6) in
dehydrated rats when compared to euhydrated rats. Quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western
Blotting will be used to measure gene and protein expression levels respectively. Specific aim 2 will
characterize the vocal fold epithelia and extracellular matrix in dehydrated and euhydrated rats
following vocal fold injury. We hypothesize incomplete stratified squamous epithelial layer, decreased
distribution and quantity of collagen and hyaluronan, and inadequate fibroblast proliferation in dehydrated rats
as compared to euhydrated controls. Histochemical stains (HE, Alcian Blue and Trichome stains) and staining
analysis will be used to observe the morphology and hyaluronan content. Overall, findings demonstrating
overexpression of inflammatory mediators, incomplete re-epithelization, and altered concentration of
extracellular matrix constituents would suggest increased risk for susceptibility from external irritants, and
altered vocal fold biomechanics. The proposed study will provide much needed evidence for the role of
hydration in influencing vocal outcomes and shed a light on the effects of systemic dehydration on vocal fold
healing following injury.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9992902
- **Project number:** 1F31DC018743-01
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ANUMITHA VENKATRAMAN
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-22 → 2022-06-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9992902

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9992902, Investigating the role of systemic dehydration in vocal fold wound healing (1F31DC018743-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9992902. Licensed CC0.

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