Relations between Blood Flow and Mucociliary Activity in the Rabbit Maxillary Sinus

Abstract

The effects of two sympathomimetic drugs on mucociliary activity and mucosal blood flow in the rabbit maxillary sinus were investigated by using a photo-electric technique (mucociliary activity) and laser Doppler flowmetry (blood flow). The responses produced were compared with effects of ligation of the external carotid artery. The a₁-agonist phenylpropanolamine (0.1-100 μg/kg) had no effect on the mucociliary activity, whereas the blood flow was reduced by 33.8±8.9% (mean ± SE) when the dose was 100 μg/kg. The a₂-agonist xylometazoline (0.01-10.0 μg/kg) reduced mucociliary wave frequency by 21.6±4.6% (mean ± SE) (maximum) for the dose 10 μg/kg. The blood flow was reduced by xylometazoline in the interval 1.0 to 10.0 μg/kg, with a maximum decrease of 65.8±2.6% (mean ± SE) for the dose of 10 μg/kg. Ligature of the external carotid artery reduced blood flow by 76.0±4.6% (mean± SE), but did not significantly influence the mucociliary wave frequency. It is concluded that the decrease in mucociliary activity induced by a₂-adrenoceptor agonists is not due to a reduced blood flow.

Key Words:

• maxillary sinus
• blood flow
• mucociliary activity
• laser Doppler flowmetry
• phenylpropanolamine
• xylometazoline