DOES SEA-WATER MADE ISOTONIC AFFECT CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY

Various nasal humidifying agents are being promoted for regular use. I n this study we compared the effects of three formulations (medium 199 , 0.9% saline and a commercially available isotonic sea-water formulat ion Rhinomer) on ciliary beat frequency using rat tracheal cilia as a model. Surface response methodology was used to evaluate the effects o f pH and osmolality of the formulation on ciliotoxicity. Our results s howed that none of the formulations differed in their effects on cilia . Moreover, neither medium 199 nor Rhinomer protected the cilia from t he effects of drugs (chlorbutol, xylometazoline, azelastine and lignoc aine) known to be ciliotoxic.