Comparison of ciliary wave disorders measured by image analysis and electron microscopy.
CONCLUSIONS
We have developed a simple, reliable method for the simultaneous determination of the ciliary wave disorder (CWD) and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of actively beating cilia.


OBJECTIVE
The CBF and the directions of beating cilia are two important components of mucociliary transport. Although lots of studies have been performed on the measurement of the CBF, there have been few studies on the direction of cilia, with the exception of those using electron microscopy (EM). EM takes too long to determine the directions of cilia, and it cannot determine the direction of actively beating cilia. The aim of this study was to develop an image analysis (IA) system to conveniently determine the wave directions of multiple actively beating cilia as well as the CBF.


METHODS
Sphenoid sinus mucosae obtained from 10 patients undergoing pituitary tumor removal via a trans-septal trans-sphenoidal approach were divided into two 4 x 4 mm2-sized pieces. One piece was studied using IA, the other with EM. Using IA, ciliary wave directions were determined from 5 20 x 20 microm2 regions of interest and the mean of 5 consecutive values was regarded as the CWD of each sample. The CBF was also measured. CWD was also measured using EM.


RESULTS
The average number of cilia analyzed by EM was 102.50 (range 48-136). The mean CWDs determined using IA and EM were 28.25+/-4.84 degrees and 23.59+/-8.16 degrees, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the CWDs determined using these two methods (Spearman's correlation coefficient =0.648; p =0.043). The mean CBF of sphenoid mucosa was 10.50+/-2.20 Hz.
Lee
Chul Hee
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Chongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. chulhee@snu.ac.kr
Lee
Seung Sin
SS
Mo
Ji-Hun
JH
Kim
In-Sang
IS
Quan
Song-Hwa
SH
Wang
Sun Young
SY
Yi
Won-Jin
WJ
Rhee
Chae-Seo
CS
Min
Yang-Gi
YG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002925:Ciliary Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012984:Software