Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Research Articles

Effect of infection and SO2 exposure on nasal and paranasal mucociliary clearance in intact chickens.

The hypothesis that homeostatic control mechanisms control mucociliary function in ciliated mucous membrane was tested. Nasal mucociliary transport rates were recorded in chickens in vivo at successive intervals during exposure to SO2 or after inoculation with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), or both. Either agent alone caused deceleration of the turbinate clearance. However, when SO2 exposure was limited to one nasal fossa and turbinate mucociliary rates were determined in the unexposed and infected side, the two acted antagonistically and yielded approximately normal rates. Exposure of the nasal mucosae to SO2 caused decreased rates of sinus clearance, while NDV infection of nasal membranes induced increased rates of sinus clearance. Exposure of nasal mucosae to both agents acted antagonistically to effect rates of sinus clearance in normal ranges. These data support the idea of homeostasis.

Mucociliary clearance in chronic sinusitis: related human nasal clearance and in vitro bullfrog palate clearance.

Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis using saccharin granule technique. Nasal mucociliary transit time (ST) was significantly slower in the patients with chronic sinusitis compared with that in controls (p less than 0.005). Nasal mucus collected from each nasal cavity was used for in vitro bullfrog palate clearance studies and compared to the in vivo nasal ST. Mucociliary clearance rate (MTR) on frog palate was 12.5 +/- 2.5 mm/min in the mucus from control subjects, 6.1 +/- 1.5 mm/min in the mucus from the patients. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The MTR on frog palate in the patients whose nasal ST was within normal range was significantly slower than that in controls (p less than 0.005), but not significantly different from that in the patients whose nasal ST was over the normal range. These results suggest that the nasal mucous properties which decreased the mucociliary clearance on frog palate did not contribute to the mucociliary clearance of the patients who had a normal one. No significant correlation existed between MTR on frog palate and nasal ST in both control and chronic sinusitis. In chronic sinusitis patients, decelerated nasal ST was recovered significantly by normal saline nebulization compared with the value before the nebulization (p less than 0.01). None of the significant change of ST was observed in control before and after the nebulization.

Effect of SO2 Exposure on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Intact Chickens

The time required for mucociliary clearance from the chicken nasal turbinate and from the maxillary sinus was investigated in individual animals by using a newly designed plastic holder for the experimental animals. Determined in this way were: 1) the effect of SO2 exposure on sinus and turbinate clearance time, 2) the effect of the nerve blocking drugs atropine, scopolamine, reserpine, and propranolol on turbinate clearance time, and 3) the effect of these nerve blockers on clearance rates in chickens exposed to SO2. Turbinate mucociliary clearance was measured at 5 intervals per day, during 1 to 7 hr after exposure, for 7 consecutive days. Sinus clearance time was measured twice daily 1 to 4 hr after exposure. Turbinate clearance time in birds exposed to 6 ppm, and sinus clearance time in birds exposed to 40 ppm intermittently for 2 consecutive days both increased strikingly as a direct effect of SO2 exposure. However, continuous exposure to 6 ppm of SO2 during 16 hr per day for 7 consecutive days produced double peaks of increased turbinate clearance time with intervening recovery periods, suggesting an intranasal mucociliary homeostatic response. In individual animals, 26 of 35 animals (75%) exposed to 5 ppm, and 5 of 10 animals (50%) exposed to 20 ppm continuously during 16 hr per day for 7 consecutive days showed the same patterns. Reserpine and propranolol, which are sympatholytic agents, produced decelerated intranasal transport rates. Atropine and scopolamine, which are parasympatholytic agents, did not affect clearance rates. These nerve blockers, however, blocked the biphasic recovery pattern due to SO2 exposure. This blocking effect was statistically significant for atropine and reserpine 1 hr after injection.

Nasal mucociliary clearance under various conditions.

We applied the tagged-particle method or the saccharin method or both to the nasal mucociliary clearance. There was no effect of ageing on the transport time of saccharin in control subjects of ages under 60, and 70% of control subjects of ages more than 60 had the same transport time as that obtained in younger control subjects. The significant inverse correlation between the mucociliary transport rates with the particle method and the transport time with the saccharin method were established in control subjects, but not, however, in patients with chronic sinusitis. The mucociliary transport rates were measured under non-physiologic conditions of the nose: laryngectomy, chronic sinusitis, Sjögren's syndrome, and Kartagener's syndrome.

Comparison of Nasal and Bronchial Mucociliary Clearance in Young Non-Smokers

1. Nasal and bronchial mucociliary clearance have been studied in ten non-smokers (aged 19-23 years). Nasal mucociliary transport was evaluated by measuring the transport rate of a single radioactive (99mTc) particle deposited on the nasal mucosa. Bronchial clearance was measured after inhalation of insoluble radioactive anionic particles (diameter 7.4 +/- 1.5 micrometer). The initial deposition of the aerosol and subsequent clearance over 1 h was monitored with a gamma-camera. 2. The initial particle deposition was concentrated centrally and was similar in all subjects. The percentage of the total deposition located in the central zone was 78.2 +/- 5.8. The range for nasal transport rate (0-12.6 mm/min) and bronchial mucociliary clearance (18.6-77.0%) was large. 3. An inverse relationship (rS = -0.63, P less than 0.05) was observed between nasal transport rate and bronchial clearance, suggesting that, in young non-smokers, the lower the rate of the nasal mucociliary transport the faster the bronchial mucociliary clearance.

Comparison of Three Methods for Measuring Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Man

Three techniques for studying nasal mucociliary clearance have been compared in 20 normal subjects, aged 19 to 26. Three different tracers used were deposited on the septum or the nasal floor. The transport rate of a 250 micron anion resin particle tagged with 99mTc was measured over a distance of 3.5 cm. This method was used as reference. The transport time of saccharin was measured when the subjects tasted its sweetness on swallowing. The transport time of 600 micron aluminium discs was measured by observing their arrival at the pharynx. For each method, duplicate measurements were carried out over a 24 hour period. Despite the large variations in the results from one day to the next, a significant negative correlation (r = -0.59, p less than 0.001) was observed between the transport rate of the radioactive particles and the transport time of the saccharin. The daily variations in nasal clearance for these two methods were also significantly correlated (r = -0.53, p less than 0.02). These results validate the suitability of the saccharin method as a simple screening test for detecting abnormally low values of nasal mucociliary clearance. In our group of 20 subjects, 5 were characterized by a low nasal mucociliary clearance, whichever method was used.

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Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured in healthy human subjects, laryngectomized patients and patients with chronic sinusitis, Sjogren's syndrome or Kartagener's syndrome. A Tc99m tagged resin particle technique for the measurernent of mucociliary transport rate(MTR) and a saccharin granule technique for the measurement of mucociliary transit time(ST) were used in this study.MTR averaged 6.4mm/min±3.4 in normal control subjects and 7.0mm/min±4.1 in laryngectomized patients. MTR in the patients with chronic sinusitis or Sjogren's syndrome averaged 3.5mm/min±2.6 and 1.8mm/min±2.8, respectively. They were significantly lower than control. The observed depression of particle transport in the patients with chronic sinusitis or Sjogren's syndrome could be due to quantitative and qualitative changes in nasal secretion. The particle movement was not observed in a patient with Kartagener's syndrome.ST averaged 14.3min±6.6 in 20 normal subjects, 3 patients with chronic sinusitis and a patient with nasal allergy. ST in 7 normal subjects averaged 14.8min±3.1 in a long term observation. Interindividual variation for ST was smaller than that for MTR. Although significant inverse correlation between MTR and ST was found, there were some occations of slow clearance in MTR with fast ST clearance, and vise versa. Saccharin technique was found to be simple and useful for a measurement of mucociliary transit time. The difference between these two methods might be explained by the notion that the MTR measured the mucus clearance and the ST might reflect clearance performed by both periciliary fluid and mucus.

Human response to controlled levels of inert dust.

We studied nasal mucous flow, airway resistance, and subjective response in 16 young healthy subjects during 5-hour exposures to 2, 10, and 25 mg of inert dust per m3 in an environmental chamber. The dust was a fully polymerized plastic dust containing carbon black. The number of these particles in room air, expressed as a per cent of the total number of particles was 36, 41, 14, 7, and 2, respectively, for the aerodynamic size ranges less than or equal to 1.8, 1.9 to 5.3, 5.4 to 8.9, 9.0 to 12.4, and greater than or equal to 12.5 micron. No significant changes in nasal mucociliary clearance rate or nasal resistance were observed. At all dust concentrations there was a decrease in 1-sec forced expiratory volume, but not in the forced vital capacity or the forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the forced vital capacity. The nasal penetration fraction of particles was approximately 55 per cent for the smallest particles and 20 per cent for the largest particles. Discomfort was proportional to the concentration of dust, but lagged almost 2 hours behind the changes in dust concentration. The discomfort was never excessive; the main complaints were dryness in the nose and pharynx.

Results of an analytical model of mucociliary pumping.

Results of an analytical model of mucociliary pumping.

EFFECT OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS SERUM ON NASAL MUCOCILIARY CLEARANCE

Studies were performed to detect a possible in vivo effect of the ciliary dyskinesia factor of cystic fibrosis (CF) serum. Following application of serum to the nasal mucosa of CF patients and normal subjects, nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) was assessed by a radioisotope technique. Removal of a radioactive droplet applied to the mucocutaneous junction of the nose was quantified by means of an Anger scintillation camera interfaced to a data storage and retrieval system. Autologous serum applied to the nasal mucosa failed to inhibit MCC in normals or in CF patients, nor did CF serum inhibit MCC in normals. By contrast, an inflammatory response induced by locally applied anti-serum to human IgE retarded MCC in CF patients but not in normals: it is presumed that the local effect of anti-IgE on MCC in CF was the result of an exudation of the serum dyskinesia factor. Possibly, recurrent or persistent pulmonary infection In CF relates to a local exudation of this factor, hindering effective clearance of secretions. Supported by C.F. Foundation, MRC (Canada), Ont. Thoracic Soc., Can. TB & RD Soc.

Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance in woodworkers in the furniture industry.

<b>Black, A., Evans, J. C., Hadfield, Esme H., Macbeth, R. G., Morgan, A., and Walsh, M. (1974).</b><i>British Journal of Industrial Medicine,</i><b>31,</b> 10-17. <b>Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance in woodworkers in the furniture industry.</b> Measurements of mucociliary clearance from the anterior end of the middle turbinate were made using technetium-99m-labelled particles in nine woodworkers from the furniture industry and in 12 controls, none of whom had been occupationally exposed to wood dust. Clearance rates in the controls ranged from 1·9 to 18·5 mm min^-1 with a mean of 6·8. These values are in good agreement with measurements reported elsewhere for normal subjects. Only one of the woodworkers had a clearance rate which fell within the normal range and he had been occupationally exposed for the shortest period (6 years). In four woodworkers clearance was very slow (&lt; 1 mm min^-1) and in three there was almost complete stasis. The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that nasal mucociliary function is significantly impaired in workers who have been exposed to wood dust in the furniture industry for more than 10 years.