title: Effect of beclomethasone dipropionate on nasal metachromatic cell sub-populations.
abstract: The effect has been investigated of local administration of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) on cell numbers of nasal epithelial metachromatic cell (NMC) sub-populations. Twenty-one patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were studied in four groups according to the duration of treatment or after treatment with BDP. Nasal scrapings were taken after 1 week (Group 1) or 2 weeks (Group 2) of BDP treatment, or after discontinuing BDP for 1 week (Group 3) or 2 weeks (Group 4). Cells were fixed with Mota's lead acetate or 10% buffered formalin followed by toluidine blue staining to count the number of NMC and to classify these according to morphological sub-types (basophils or mast cells). Formalin-sensitive mast cells and basophils in nasal scrapings were reduced more than formalin-resistant mast cells with BDP treatment. Formalin-sensitive mast cells were also more prompt to recover from BDP than formalin-resistant mast cells. The results suggest that the formalin-sensitive NMC is a sub-population of cells which responds to BDP treatment in allergic rhinitis.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde; D001507:Beclomethasone