STUDIES ON CILIATED EPITHELIUM OF NASAL CAVITIES AND PARANASAL SINUSES

Abstract

Ciliatedepithelial cells of man and rabbits wer studied under a phase contrast microscope, producing allergic reaction in the cells. The findings were as follows:1) Non-sensitized human ciliated epithelial tissue was destroyed by the the addition of 1: 10 or stronger histamine solution. With weaker solution than 1: 10, increased ciliary activity was noted. By the stimulation with 1: 2000 or stronger solution, sensitized epithelial tissue schowed shirinkage of the epithelial cells, increase of activity, cessation of activity, or destruction of cilia and cells. By the addition of 1: 1000 or stronger acetylcholine solution, non-sensitized epithelial tissue was destroyed by 1: 1000 or stronger solution, whereas sensitized epithelial tissue was destroyed by 1: 5000 or stronger solution. Tissue reaction to histamine and acetylcholine was closely resemble to allergic reaction, suggesting the production of these toxic substances in allergic reaction.2) The antigens were added to sensitive human ciliated epithelial tissue from the sinues.Shrinkage of the cells, temporal increase of activity, enlargement of granules in cytoplasm, destruction of cilia, swelling of the cells and destruction of the cells. Similar changes were also observed when the antigen was added to the sinus mucosa of rabbit sensitized by egg-white albumin.3) When the antigen was introduced into the paransal sinuses of sensitized rabbits, moderate decrease and weakening in the ciliary activity, shrinkage of the cells, and loss of cilia, were observed but not the remarkable allergic reactions observed under the microscope. This suggests that such a drastic allergic reaction seen in vitro does not take place in vivo.4) Intra-arterial injection of the antigen to the sensitized rabbits showed cessation of the ciliary activity, falling- off of the cilia and atrophy of the cells. It can be presumed that such phenomena may develop also in man with food allergy, playing a significant role in the development of sinusitis.5) In a state of vagotony, the ciliary activity was moderately decreased and weakened, but when adrenalin was added, the activity returned to healthy condition. When the allergen was again added, allergic reaction occurred more rapidly and intensely than in normal rabbits which had been sensitized.6) The ciliary activity in adrenalectomized animals was moderately decreased and weakened, with an about20 percent loss of cilia and atrophy of the cells. The ciliary movement returned to normal when Intereniin was giverr. Tire ciliary activity was more depressed and the loss of cilia was more remarkable in animals sensitized after adrenalectomy. When the allergen was given, marked allergic reaction developed in brief periods of time.7) In thyroidectomized animals, the ciliary activity was midly depressed, exhibited mild but neither the loss of cilia nor the shrinkage of the cells was noted. When the Thyracin was added, the ciliary activity returned to normal. In sensitized animals, also the ciliary activity showed mild 'depression and when the allergen was added, allergic reaction was developed.However the reaction in this instance was generally milder than that seen in adrenalectomizedt animals.8) When the epithelium of the sinus mucous membrane in the cases with positive reaction to bacterial precipitation test was subjected to the action of the bacterial suspension of the same kind, allergic reaction developed likewise in the ciliary cells. The reaction continued longer and was weaker than that caused by other antigens.When the bacterial suspension was added to the sinus mucosa of the animals which showed positive precipitation test for the bacteria, allergic reaction was abserved in the ciliated epithelial cells. The reaction was milder and the duration of the reaction was longer, compared with the reaction to other antigens.