Rat Nasal Cavity Research Articles

Prolonged Release of Drug from O/W Emulsion and Residence in Rat Nasal Cavity

ABSTRACTThe present study evaluated the usefulness of an o/w emulsion for slowing the release of chlorphenira-mine maleate (CM) and prolonging drug residence in the nasal cavity. O/w emulsion formulations of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) were prepared, and their physicochemical properties and drug release kinetics were evaluated using the in vitro dialysis tube method. Drug disappearance from the rat nasal cavity was determined in in situ nasal experiments. CM partitioned in oil droplets by pH, as predicted by pH partition theory. With higher MCT concentration and pH, slower release of CM was observed. CM disappearance (kapp) from the rat nasal cavity was injuenced by the amount of drug partitioned in the oil droplets with both the perfusion and deposit methods, and the kapp of CM decreased with increase in MCT concentration and pH. Moreover, with the deposit method, CM remaining in the nasal cavity exhibited a biphasic projle of disappearance, which complied with a saturated process. Because a very small portion of MCT might be adsorbed and formed a pseudo-oily layer on the mucous membranes, prolongation of CM residence on the mucous membrane was attained, These jndings suggest that emulsion containing 30% MCT at pH 8 may be useful for inclusion in controlled-release formulations of CM for intranasal drug delivery in the treatment of allergy.

Identification and neuropeptide content of trigeminal neurons innervating the rat nasal epithelium

Trigeminal ganglia provides sensory innervation to the rat nasal cavity. The purpose of this study was to identify the location and characterize the neuropeptide content of trigeminal neurons that project specifically to the rat nasal epithelium. The right nasal cavity was instilled with 4μl of rhodamine-labelled latex microspheres. Seven, 10 or 14 days after tracer instillation, both trigeminal ganglia were removed and prepared for substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunocytochemistry. Neurons labelled with microspheres were located in the trigeminal ganglia at the division of the ophthalmic and maxillary nerves and were only found on the side ipsilateral to the instillation. The percentage of labelled cell body profiles in the right trigeminal ganglia averaged 1.61±.04% at seven days, 1.54±.01% at 10 days, and 1.65±.02% at 14 days after instillation. These values were not statistically different, but the fluorescence intensity in labelled neurons was increased after 14 days. The right trigeminal ganglia contained a mean of 166±13.81 labelled cell body profiles representing 1.60±.09% of the total. Of the labelled profiles, 81.6±3.27% were immunoreactive for substance P and 35.2±4.00% for calcitonin gene-related peptide. Sections of nasal mucosa showed that the microspheres were localized only in the epithelial layer and did not enter the lamina propria indicating that the microsphere transport was confined to nerve fibres present in the epithelial layer.These studies have identified specific neurons in the trigeminal ganglia that project to the nasal epithelium. Most of the neurons retrogradely labelled from the nasal cavity contained substance P but some contained calcitonin gene-related peptide, suggesting that the nasal epithelium is predominantly targeted by substance P-containing neurons.

Physiologically Based Modeling of Vinyl Acetate Uptake, Metabolism, and Intracellular pH Changes in the Rat Nasal Cavity

Chronic inhalation exposure to vinyl acetate (VA) causes lesions in the nasal cavity of the rat. This effect appears to be related to tissue exposure to either acetaldehyde (AAld) or acetic acid (AA) metabolites of VA or both. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was constructed to describe the deposition of VA in the nasal cavity of the rat and provide estimates of regional tissue exposure to VA, AAld, and AA. Since formation of AA in the nasal tissue should cause intracellular acidification, a submodel which describes free intracellular hydrogen ion concentration and intracellular pH (pHi) changes was linked to the VA model. The dosimetry model was applied to data from a series of experiments designed to measure the uptake and metabolism of VA in the isolated upper respiratory tract of the rat at exposure concentrations ranging from 73 to 2190 ppm. Extraction of VA from the nasal cavity was nonlinear with respect to exposure concentration and ranged from 36 to 94%, with the greatest deposition occurring at the lowest VA concentrations. Pretreatment with bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, an inhibitor of carboxylesterases, significantly reduced fractional deposition of VA compared to naive rats exposed to similar VA concentrations. The best model fits for VA extraction and AAld appearance were achieved when a second carboxylesterase isozyme, with high-affinity characteristics, was included. Simulations of 6-h inhalation exposures to VA predicted that the order of nasal tissue exposures will be to AA > AAld > VA. In addition, based on measured tissue hydrolysis rates, sufficient acid should be formed by the metabolism of VA to cause significant changes in pHi. VA exposures of 200 and 600 ppm were predicted to result in a pHiof less than 7.2 and 6.7, respectively. This model provides nasal dosimetry estimates needed to develop mechanistically based risk assessment approaches for human exposures to VA vapor.

Nasal Cytochrome P450 2A: Identification, Regional Localization, and Metabolic Activity toward Hexamethylphosphoramide, a Known Nasal Carcinogen

Two members of the cytochrome P450 2A subfamily, CYP2A10 and 2A11, are abundant nasal enzymes previously characterized in rabbit olfactory microsomes. Rabbit CYP2A is active toward a number of nasal toxicants, including the rat nasal procarcinogen hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). While P450s immunochemically related to the rabbit CYP2As have been detected in rat and human nasal mucosa, confirmation of these enzymes as members of the CYP2A subfamily and efforts to characterize their ability to bioactivate toxicants have been limited. In the present study, the regional distribution and cell-specific expression of CYP2A in the rat nasal cavity were examined using an antibody to rabbit CYP2A10/11. In sections of the anterior nose, immunoreactive CYP2A was present in ciliated cells of the nasal respiratory epithelium and cuboidal epithelial cells of the nasal transitional epithelium, but was absent in squamous epithelial cells. The most intense immunostaining was observed in the posterior nose. Olfactory sustentacular cells and Bowman's gland cells in sections posterior to the nasal papilla stained most intensely. Western blot analysis revealed that anti-CYP2A10/11 recognized a sharp band of approximately 50 kDa in nasal respiratory and olfactory microsomes, supporting the premise that the antibody is reacting with a cytochrome P450 enzyme. The nasal expression of CYP2A6 mRNA—a member of the human CYP2A subfamily having a high degree of homology to rabbit 2A10 and 2A11—was examined in human surgical patients. Middle turbinectomy tissues—largely composed of nasal respiratory epithelia—from 11 patients were analyzed for the presence of CYP2A6 using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Identification of CYP2A6 was confirmed by DNA sequencing of RT–PCR products. CYP2A6 mRNA was detected in all of the human samples analyzed. In additional experiments, human CYP2A6 metabolized HMPA to formaldehyde, suggesting that this compound might cause nasal toxicity in humans. The identification of CYP2A cytochromes in rat and human nasal tissues may have important implications for risk assessment of inhaled xenobiotics.

Cytokeratin patterns of epithelial cells of the rat nasal cavity in vivo and in vitro

Nasal epithelial cells are a primary target for the actions of inhaled substances. To enable the determination of alterations in cell differentiation in the rat inhalation model, we developed a methodology to assess cytokeratin expression in rat nasal tissue. A panel of commercially available antibodies was validated for specificity to defined rat cytokeratins by immunoblotting. The development of immunohistological procedures to enhance spatial resolution enabled mapping of cytokeratin patterns in various cell types at defined regions and levels of the rat nasal cavity using serial sections and a standardized evaluation schedule.

The interaction of imposed and inherent olfactory mucosal activity patterns and their composite representation in a mammalian species using voltage-sensitive dyes

From amphibian data, two mechanisms that could underlie the encoding of odorants by the mucosal activity patterns they engender are as follows (1) receptors with similar odorant selectivities could be aggregated spatially on the mucosa (inherent patterns); (2) in analogy to gas chromatography, as odorants are drawn along the surface of the mucosa the strongly sorbed ones could be deposited preferentially upstream, whereas the weakly sorbed ones could be distributed more evenly (imposed patterns). Do both of these possible coding mechanisms operate in mammals and, if so, how do they interact in giving composite patterns (imposed + inherent)? Fluorescence changes in di-4-ANEPPS applied to rat mucosas were monitored by a 10 x 10 pixel photodiode array. To observe the inherent patterns, three odorants of varying sorbabilities first were puffed uniformly onto the entire mucosa mounted in a Delrin chamber. To bring out the imposed patterns, the chamber was then sealed to replicate anatomically the rat's nasal cavity, and these same odorants were drawn at three flow rates along the mucosal flow path. The results demonstrated for the first time the existence of imposed patterns in a mammal. The strongly sorbed odorants, unlike the weakly sorbed one, showed marked imposed patterns. Within physiological limits, increasing the flow rate decreased the magnitude of the imposed patterns. One might consider strategies that the olfactory process could use either to negate or to take advantage of the chromatographic effect, because the lability of the composite patterns with changing stimulus conditions raises questions about their role in odorant encoding.

Olfactory toxicity of methyl iodide in the rat.

The monohalomethanes (methyl iodide, methyl bromide and methyl chloride) are widely used industrial methylating agents with pronounced acute and chronic toxicity in both experimental animals and man. Recently inhalation exposure of rats to methyl bromide has been shown to result in severe olfactory toxicity. This study examined the effects on the rat nasal cavity of inhalation of methyl iodide (100 ppm for 0.5-6 h), and demonstrated that methyl iodide is a more potent olfactory toxin than methyl bromide. Within the nasal cavity the olfactory epithelium was the principle target tissue, and it was only at high doses (600 ppm.h) that limited damage to transitional epithelium occurred. The squamous and respiratory epithelia were consistently unaffected. Within olfactory epithelium the sustentacular cells were the primary cellular target and damage to sensory cells appeared to be a secondary event. Methyl iodide induced olfactory damage was reversible, and 2 weeks after exposure almost complete repair had taken place.

Metabolism of a neurotensin (8–13) analog by intestinal and nasal enzymes, and approaches to stabilize this peptide at these absorption sites

Adamantoyl-Lys-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu (Ada-KPYIL) is a neurotensin analog which has analgesic activity when dosed parenterally, but not when dosed orally. In vitro studies were carried out to determine whether metabolism was responsible for oral inactivity. Ada-KPYIL was stable in simulated gastric fluid containing pepsin at acidic pH. Ada-KPYIL was immediately metabolized in simulated intestinal fluid containing pancreatin, a mixture of pancreatic enzymes, and also in dilute solutions containing this enzyme. Chymotrypsin, trypsin, elastase, and carboxypeptidase were each capable of metabolizing Ada-KPYIL, and chymotrypsin was active at the lowest concentration. Chymostatin effectively inhibited Ada-KPYIL metabolism by chymotrypsin. Formulation of Ada-KPYIL in mixed micelles or in an oil-in-water emulsion also inhibited metabolism by chymotrypsin. However, there was no inhibition of metabolism in a solution containing only the bile salt, suggesting that partitioning of Ada-KPYIL into the oil phase is the protective mechanism. Ada-KPYIL was stable when perfused through a rat nasal cavity. These oral formulation approaches or nasal administration may be useful for improving the delivery of Ada-KPYIL or other peptides with similar delivery problems.

Regional Cytotoxicity and Nonprotein Sulfhydryl Depletion in The Rat Nasal Cavity Following Acute Inhalation Exposure to Ethyl Acrylate

Regional Cytotoxicity and Nonprotein Sulfhydryl Depletion in The Rat Nasal Cavity Following Acute Inhalation Exposure to Ethyl Acrylate

Immunohistochemical localisation of six glutathione S-transferases within the nasal cavity of the rat.

Many xenobiotics induce lesions within the nasal cavity of experimental animals which are site specific. This site selectivity may be due to regional deposition within the nasal cavity and/or the localisation of biotransformation enzymes. We have developed methodology which allows immunohistochemical localisation of xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes in transverse sections of the rat nasal cavity identical to those normally taken for pathological examination. We report the application of this methodology to six isoenzymes of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). All six isoenzymes were predominantly located within olfactory epithelium covering the ethmoturbinates (levels III and IV) and extending forwards into the dorsal meatus (level II). Squamous and transitional epithelia showed little or no staining while respiratory epithelium was weakly stained. Within the respiratory epithelium only the ciliated columnar cells and, to a lesser extent, some of the seromucous glands contained GSTs. Within olfactory epithelium the sustentacular cells, basal cells and subepithelial glands all stained positive for GSTs. The different cell types of olfactory epithelium preferentially express different GST isoenzymes: 1-1 and 2-2 were predominantly located in the subepithelial glands; 3-3, 4-4 and 8-8 in sustentacular and basal cells; 7-7 in basal cells.

Nasal mucosal metabolism of an LH-RH fragment and inhibition with boroleucine

This study is a continuation of investigations of the metabolism of peptides by the rat nasal mucosa, and methods to inhibit metabolism. LH-RH 3–10 was rapidly metabolized by aminopeptidases when perfused through the isolated rat nasal cavity. Metabolism was almost completely inhibited by co-perfusing a very low concentration of boroleucine, an aminopeptidase inhibitor. LH-RH 3–10 is different from peptides previously evaluated in similar studies, in that non-polar amino acids are adjacent to the site of peptidase cleavage. This study shows that such peptides are metabolized by nasal aminopeptidases, and that metabolism can be inhibited by boroleucine.

The regional hydrolysis of ethyl acrylate to acrylic acid in the rat nasal cavity

Cytotoxicity is primarily limited to the olfactory epithelium of the dorsal meatus region of the nasal cavity of rodents following inhalation exposure to acrylic monomers. To investigate the biochemical basis for this effect, three regions of the Fischer F344N rat nasal cavity were evaluated for Carboxylesterase activity for the representative acrylic ester, ethyl acrylate. Prior studies have indicated that the rodent olfactory epithelium is sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of short chain organic acids. In this study, no regional difference in Carboxylesterase activity was observed between sensitive and non-sensitive regions of olfactory epithelium. Respiratory epithelium (resistant to Cytotoxicity) was found to be have a much lower rate of Carboxylesterase activity than olfactory epithelium. These results suggest that the regional distribution of Cytotoxicity observed in the rat nasal cavity at high concentrations of inhaled acrylic monomers may be due in part to the amount of released organic acid following deposition. However, the observation of the same esterase activity in sensitive and nonsensitive olfactory regions suggests that nasal air flow patterns and regional deposition may also be critical factors.

The physicochemical properties, plasma enzymatic hydrolysis, and nasal absorption of acyclovir and its 2'-ester prodrugs.

A series of 2'-(O-acyl) derivatives of 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir) was synthesized by acid anhydride esterification. Aqueous solubilities in isotonic phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), partition coefficients in 1-octanol/phosphate buffer, and hydrolysis kinetics in rat plasma were determined. The ester prodrugs showed consistent increases in lipophilicity with corresponding decreases in aqueous solubility as a function of side-chain length. The bioconversion kinetics of the prodrugs appear to depend on both the apolar and the steric nature of the acyl substituents. When perfused through the rat nasal cavity using the in situ perfusion technique, acyclovir showed no measurable loss from the perfusate. Nasal uptake of acyclovir prodrugs, on the other hand, were moderately improved. Furthermore, the extent of nasal absorption appears to depend on the lipophilicity of the prodrugs in the descending order hexanoate > valerate > pivalate > butyrate. Simultaneous prodrug cleavage by nasal carboxylesterase was also noted in the case of hexanoate.

Lactic Acid‐Induced Plasma Protein Extravasation in Rat Airways by Stimulation of Sensory Nerves and NK1 Receptor Activation

Locally applied lactic acid and capsaicin caused extravasation of Evans blue dye in trachea, main bronchi and nasal mucosa of anaesthetized rats. In animals pretreated with capsaicin to deplete sensory neuropeptides, the lactic acid response was abolished in main bronchi and highly reduced in trachea. Pretreatment with the NK1 receptor antagonist, RP 67580 (3 mg x kg-1 intravenously), markedly inhibited the lactic acid-induced extravasation at all levels; similar pretreatment with NK2 receptor antagonist, SR 48968 (0.5 mg x kg-1 intravenously), was ineffective. Locally applied ruthenium red (a transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes inhibitor), capsazepine (a capsacin receptor antagonist) and diclofenac intraperitoneally (a cyclooxygenase blocker) did not change the lactic acid effect, while the capsaicin response was only diminished in bronchi by local pretreatment with ruthenium red. In conclusion locally applied lactic acid in rat trachea and nasal cavity activated capsaicin sensitive sensory nerve endings producing plasma protein extravasation. This reaction was shown to be mediated by tachykinins acting on the NK1 receptor through a mechanism which appeared to be resistant to capsazepine and ruthenium red and independent of cyclooxygenase products. In comparison the effect of capsacin was partially ruthenium red-sensitive but not influenced by capsazepine.

A microscopic and ultrastructural evaluation of dibasic esters (DBE) toxicity in rat nasal explants

Dibasic esters (DBE) solvent has been demonstrated to induce a mild degeneration of the olfactory, but not the respiratory epithelium of the rat nasal cavity following a 90-day inhalation exposure. Previous work has demonstrated that acid phosphatase release is a reliable index of DBE-induced cytotoxicity in an in vitro system of rat nasal explants. In the present study, rat nasal explants were examined microscopically and ultrastructurally following incubation in varying concentrations of a representative DBE, dimethyl adipate (DMA). DMA-induced microscopic and ultrastructural changes in rat nasal explants correlated well with biochemical perturbations associated with DBE exposure in a previous study. In both studies, olfactory epithelium was more susceptible to DMA-induced toxicity than respiratory epithelium and DMA-induced nasal toxicity was attenuated by pretreatment with a carboxylesterase inhibitor. The results of this study support the hypothesis that DBE and potentially other inhaled organic esters induce nasal toxicity via a common mechanism, carboxylesterase-mediated production of toxic acid metabolites. It was established that carboxylesterase-rich sustentacular cells are the primary target cells for DBE toxicity in rat nasal explants. It was proposed that degeneration of nasal olfactory sensory cells observed in rats following 90-day inhalation exposure to DBE may be secondary to necrosis and loss of sustentacular cells.

Absorption of Acetylsalicylic Acid from the Rat Nasal Cavity

The fate of salicylate in the plasma of rats was followed after nasal, intravenous, and oral administration of 2.0‐mg doses of aspirin. Aspirin was well absorbed following nasal administration of a neutralized, nonirritating solution containing triethanolamine. The rate of absorption was slower than that of other nasally administered drugs, such as propranolol or progesterone. The bioavailability of aspirin following nasal administration was 100%, whereas the oral bioavailability was only 58.8% at the dose studied.

Kinetics and enzyme involvement in the metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in microsomes of rat lung and nasal mucosa.

The rat lung and nasal cavity are two target organs for carcinogenesis by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). In order to characterize further the enzymes involved in the bioactivation of NNK, detailed kinetic and inhibitory studies were conducted with rat lung and nasal mucosa microsomes, and the results were compared with previous studies. The enzymes in rat lung microsomes catalyzed the alpha-hydroxylation, pyridine N-oxidation and carbonyl reduction of NNK. The apparent Km for the formation of the NNK-derived keto aldehyde, NNK-N-oxide, the NNK-derived keto alcohol and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol were 28.8, 10.4, 7.0 and 178.1 microM respectively. In rat nasal microsomes, alpha-hydroxylation was the predominant pathway and the rate was approximately 200 times higher than that in lung microsomes. The apparent Kms for keto aldehyde and keto alcohol formation in rat nasal microsomes were 9.6 and 10.1 microM respectively. The cytochrome P450 inhibitors metyrapone and carbon monoxide markedly inhibited the metabolism of NNK in both rat lung and nasal microsomes. In rat lung microsomes, alpha-naphthoflavone and monospecific antibodies against P450s 1A2, 2A1 and 2B1 inhibited the formation of keto aldehyde by 39, 46, 64 and 23% respectively. In rat nasal microsomes, alpha-naphthoflavone and antibodies against P450s 1A2, 2A1 and 3A inhibited the metabolism of NNK by 80, 35, 20 and 14% respectively. The results indicate that cytochromes P450 play a major role in the metabolic activation of NNK in rat lung and nasal microsomes, and that there are tissue-related differences in NNK metabolism.

The effects of neonatal capsaicin administration on trigeminal nerve chemoreceptors in the rat nasal cavity

Trigeminal nerve fibers in the nasal cavity respond to a variety of volatile chemical stimuli. Some of these trigeminal nerve fibers have been suggested to be capsaicin-sensitive and thus belong to a class of pain receptor rather than constituting a separate class of chemoreceptor. Our current results confirm this suggestion. Trigeminal nerve responses to volatile chemical stimuli were eliminated in rats which were injected with capsaicin on the second day of life. Animals whose nerves were unresponsive to chemical stimuli also exhibited a loss of intraepithelial peptide-immunoreactive fibers in their nasal cavities. The results of this study suggest that trigeminal nerve fibers in the nasal cavity which respond to chemical stimuli may be polymodal nociceptors which contain pubstance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, or perhaps other neuropeptides.

Carboxylesterase-dependent cytotoxicity of dibasic esters (DBE) in rat nasal explants

Dibasic esters (DBE) are a solvent mixture of dimethyl adipate (DMA), dimethyl glutarate (DMG), and dimethyl succinate (DMS) used in the paint and coating industry. Subchronic inhalation toxicity studies have demonstrated that DBE induce a mild degeneration of the olfactory, but not the respiratory, epithelium of the rat nasal cavity. Carboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis of the individual dibasic esters is more efficient in olfactory than in respiratory mucosal homogenates. In the present study, an in vitro system of cultured rat nasal explants was utilized to determine if DBE toxicity is dependent on a metabolic activation by nonspecific carboxylesterase. Explants from both the olfactory and the respiratory regions of the female rat nasal cavity were incubated for 2 hr in Williams' medium E containing 10–100 m m DMA, DMG, or DMS. DBE caused a dose-related increase in nasal explant acid phosphatase release, a biochemical index of cytotoxicity. HPLC analysis demonstrated parallel increases in the carboxylesterase-mediated formation of monomethyl ester metabolites. Diacid metabolite production in the nasal explant system was not entirely concentration-dependent. Metabolite concentrations and acid phosphatase release were generally greater in olfactory than respiratory tissues. DBE-induced cytotoxicity and acid metabolite production were markedly attenuated in nasal tissue excised from rats which were pretreated with bis ( p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, a carboxylesterase inhibitor. This study presents a viable in vitro method for assessing organic ester cytotoxicity in the rat nasal cavity. It was shown that DBE are weak nasal toxicants under the conditions of this system. It was further demonstrated that DBE toxicity is dependent on a carboxylesterase-mediated activation. A similar mechanism was proposed for the nasal toxicity induced by other organic esters following inhalation exposure.

Effects of acute exposure to formaldehyde on surface morphology of nasal epithelia in rats

This study investigated the distribution of epithelial cells over the turbinates in the rat nasal cavity and their injury following exposure to formaldehyde. Rats were exposed to either purified air or 10 ppm formaldehyde for a period of 4 h. The noses removed from these rats were decalcified, sectioned midsagittally along the septum to expose the internal turbinates, and processed for examination by scanning electron microscopy. The distribution of the various cell types present was documented in the control rats. Observations obtained from the formaldehyde-exposed rats were compared to those in rats exposed to purified air. Changes were seen in the various regions of the turbinates in the form of ciliary destruction and cell separation (especially in the naso- and moxilloturbinates), cellular swelling (throughout the turbinates), mucus release by the goblet cells (in the nasoturbinate), and in some cases pores on the cell surface or between adjacent cells (evident in the middle meatus). The data from this study indicate that the degree of deleterious effects of formaldehyde on the nasal epithelia of rats is dependent upon cell type and location. Histological studies supported the scanning electron microscopic observations by demonstrating increased goblet cell volume, cell sloughing, and damaged cilia.