The Effects of Prostaglandins E₁ E₂ and F_2α on Mucociliary Activity in the Rabbit Maxillary Sinus

Abstract

The in vivo effects of prostaglandins E₁, E₂ and F_2α on mucociliary activity in the rabbit maxillary sinus were investigated using a photoelectric technique. Prostaglandins E₁ and F_2α both accelerated the mucociliary wave frequency in a dose-dependent fashion. For prostaglandin E₁ the maximum increase was 17.4±2.6% (0.1 μg/kg), for prostaglandin F_2α it was 24.1±3.0% (10 μg/kg). The effects of prostaglandin E₂ were inconsistent. Although some doses stimulated mucociliary activity, the effects were not reproducible. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase with theophylline did not alter the response to exogenous prostaglandin E₁, nor did inhibition of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin affect the basal mucociliary activity or the response to exogenous prostaglandin E₁. The present findings suggest that the tested prostaglandins are of minor importance for regulating mucociliary function in the rabbit maxillary sinus.

Key Words:

• prostaglandins
• mucociliary activity