Effects of inflammatory mediators on ciliary function in vitro.

Prostaglandins and histamine released during inflammatory and allergic reactions can affect the mucociliary system in different ways. By studying the effect of these mediators on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) with a photo-electrical technique in airway explants from different species, i.e. guinea-pig trachea, rabbit maxillary sinus, and human adenoid, the mechanisms underlying the effects of prostaglandin and histamine were further elucidated. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) produced a modest increase in CBF in preparations from guinea-pig trachea. The maximum response was 12.9 +/- 3.4% for the dose of 0.1 micrograms/ml, corresponding with 0.28 microM. Prostaglandin E1 produced a dose-dependent increase in explants from rabbit maxillary sinus, the maximum effect was 35.9 +/- 14.1% at a dose of 1.0 micrograms/ml. PGE1 produced a lesser increase in CBF in explants from human adenoids. A maximum increase of 4.1 +/- 1.6% was observed at a dose of 0.1 mg/ml. Histamine produced a moderate increase in CBF in explants from human adenoid at concentrations of 0.01-0.1 mM, corresponding with 1.84-18.4 micrograms/ml. In contrast, histamine did not significantly alter CBF in explants from the rabbit maxillary sinus or guinea-pig trachea. These results indicate that there are interspecies differences in the responsiveness to prostaglandins, and that PGE1 seems to have more powerful effects on CBF in the upper than in the lower airways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)