Abstract
The effect of macrolides on the nasal ciliary activity (CA) was examined in vitro. CA was investigated by a photo-electric method using C 3 H mouse nasal septum mucosa and human ethmoid sinus mucosa, cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with erythromycin (EM), roxithromycin (RXM) or acetylspiramycin (SPM).
1) In the medium with more than 1% EM, CAwas affected immediately, and in more than 2% EM, the impairment of CA was irreversible.
2) In addition of 0.5%, or 0.05% EM, CA was immediately stimulated to 121.7%, or 135.2% respectively. However, these elevations were later reduced. The enhancement of CA without later inhibition was observed in 0.005% and 0.002% EM.
3) With RXM, the enhancement of CA was observed only in the concentrations between 0.005% and 0.0005%.
4) SPM did not enhanced CA significantly at any concentrations examined.
Although the mechanisms of efficacy of EM and RXM to chronic sinusitis remain unknown, our results suggest that they may play a role of stimulator on the mucociliary clearance and improve the chronic state of sinusitis.
