CORRELATION BETWEEN CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY AND THE STRUCTURE OF CILIATED EPITHELIA IN PATHOLOGICAL HUMAN NASAL-MUCOSA

The structure and function of ciliated epithelium were studied in 44 h uman nasal mucosa samples using a photoelectric method and scanning el ectron microscopy (SEM). The ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of cases wit h recurrent or chronic sinusitis was 9.1 +/- 5.4 Hz. In eight of the s amples (18.2%) no ciliary activity was detected. The amount of ciliate d cells, the orientation of cilia, epithelial metaplasia, and secretio n were found to be explanatory factors accounting for the decreased ci liary activity. Ciliary disorientation and a lack of ciliated cells in SEM correlated with low ciliary activity. In cases where sinusitis se cretion was not seen, the CBF was slower than in cases with mucus or m ucopurulent secretion. Sinusitis with disoriented cilia, a loss of cil iated cells, and a lack of mucosal secretion is associated with a decr eased CBF. This may lead to impaired mucociliary clearance and increas e the risk of recurrent and chronic sinusitis.