K. Takeyama et al., EFFECT OF MACROLIDE ANTIBIOTICS ON CILIARY MOTILITY IN RABBIT AIRWAY EPITHELIUM IN-VITRO, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 45(8), 1993, pp. 756-758
We have studied ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of rabbit cultured trache
al epithelium by a photoelectric method in-vitro. Addition of erythrom
ycin and roxithromycin increased CBF in a dose-dependent fashion, wher
eas clarithromycin was without effect. The rank order potency of macro
lide was roxithromycin > erythromycin much greater than clarithromycin
. The roxithromycin-induced increase in CBF was not altered by propran
olol, AA-861, or verapamil, but partially attenuated by indomethacin.
Roxithromycin increased intracellular cAMP concentrations. These resul
ts suggest that certain macrolides can stimulate airway ciliary motili
ty probably via prostaglandin- and cAMP-dependent regulatory pathways,
which may affect mucociliary transport function in the respiratory tr
act.