Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1997 Apr;40(4):607-613.

The Effect of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride on Ciliary Beat Frequency in Nasal Respiratory Epithelium

• Kim CN
• Ju MS
• Min YG
• Lee KS

Abstract

The mucociliary system has primary defence mechanism in the respiratory tract. The effects of various drugs used clinically in the treatment of disease of the nasal cavity have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alpha1 receptor agonist, phenylephrine hydrochloride on ciliary beat frequency in vitro using a video computerized analysis technique. The ciliated epithelial cells from the nasal mucosa in four volunteers were collected in a culture medium and exposed to 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution according to 0.5 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, and 6 days. There was a significant decrease in ciliary beat frequency with exposure to 0.125% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution for 12 hours, and 0.25% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution for 8 hours(p<0.05). There were cilioinhibitory effects with concentration dependent response by phenylephrine hydrochloride solution. After substitution of the culture medium with phenylephrine hydrochloride free one showed no ciliary recovery in all groups. The results of this study suggest that phenylephrine hydrochloride may have phamacologically a cilioinhibitory effect in vitro on ciliated epithelium.

Keyword

Phenylephrine hydrochloride; Ciliary beat frequency; Nasal respiratory epithelium

MeSH Terms

Epithelial Cells
Epithelium
Nasal Cavity
Nasal Mucosa
Phenylephrine*
Respiratory Mucosa*
Respiratory System
Volunteers
Phenylephrine