INCREASE OF CL- SECRETION INDUCED BY KAMPO MEDICINE (JAPANESE HERBAL MEDICINE), SAI-REI-TO, IN MONGOLIAN GERBIL MIDDLE-EAR EPITHELIUM

Sai-rei-to, a type of Kampo medicine (Japanese herbal medicine), has b een shown to be clinically effective in treating patients with otitis media with effusion. The effect of Sai-rei-to on the ion transport of the middle ear surface epithelium cultured from the Mongolian gerbil w as investigated by using an Ussing chamber. Application of Sai-rei-to to the mucosal bath but not the serosal bath induced an increase in th e short-circuit current (I-SC) in the basal state. The increase in I-S C was almost completely inhibited by addition of diphenylamine-2-carbo xylic acid but not by amiloride, indicating enhancement of Cl- secreti on. On the basis of the lack of changes in the intracellular Ca2+ conc entration and a sideness of action, the effect of Sai-rei-to on Ise is thought to be a direct and selective activation on the apical Cl- cha nnel.