Nasal mucociliary transport, number of ciliated cells, and beating pattern in naturally acquired common colds
Pedersen, M.; Sakakura, Y.; Winther, B.; Brofeldt, S.; Mygind, N.
European Journal of Respiratory Diseases. Suppl 128: 355-365
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0106-4347 PMID: 6578083 Document Number: 216374
Repeated samples of nasal epithelium were taken for in vitro study of the number and motility of ciliated cells (microphoto-oscillographic technique), and nasal mucociliary clearance transport rate was measured (saccharin test) in 26 subjects with naturally acquired common colds. The transport rate was markedly reduced during the disease, and a slight impairment remained even after 32 days. There was a considerable fall in the number of ciliated cells, and regeneration was slow. A moderate and shortlasting change in beating frequency and intracellular synchrony was also observed. It is concluded, that a common cold, as a rule, results in marked and long-lasting impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance function, and this may be the cause of some otherwise unexplainable symptoms from the nose and throat.