Effects of purinergic stimulation on ciliary beat frequency and chloride secretion in sinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to identify the functional abnormality of sinusitis-affected mucosa by observing the responsiveness of the mucosa to purinergic stimulation after the onset of sinusitis and during the recovery period. We also aimed to identify possible beneficial effects of purinergic agonists on sinusitis.


METHODS
A rabbit sinusitis model was developed by blocking maxillary ostia. Sinus mucosae were harvested immediately and 1 and 4 weeks after reopening the ostia. We measured chloride secretion and ciliary beat frequencies responding to purinergic stimulation.


RESULTS
The increases of ciliary beat frequency by adenosine triphosphate (100 micromol/L) were 3.2%+/-8.5%, 7.9%+/-2.3%, and 12.2%+/-1.9% immediately after establishment of sinusitis and 1 week and 4 weeks after reopening of ostia, respectively. Chloride secretion stimulated by adenosine triphosphate also showed gradual increase during the recovery period. Grossly, the mucosae appeared to have normalized in 80% (4 of 5) after 4 weeks; however, functional and microscopic improvements were still incomplete.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucosal functions, assessed by increase of ciliary activity and ion secretion by purinergic stimulation, and microscopic findings showed gradual but incomplete recovery after 4 weeks of recovery, in contrast to the gross normalization. Purinergic agonists may have beneficial effects on sinusitis by stimulating decreased ciliary motility and chloride secretion in sinusitis.
Kim
In-Sang
IS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
Rhee
Chae-Seo
CS
Lee
Jun Ho
JH
Heo
Jeong-Hwa
JH
Park
Jerry
J
Lee
Chul Hee
CH
D000818:Animals; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000378:metabolism*; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018118:Chloride Channels; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic