THE EFFECT OF CHRONIC NASAL APPLICATION OF CHITOSAN SOLUTIONS ON CILIA BEAT FREQUENCY IN GUINEA-PIGS

The cilia beat frequency (CBF) was evaluated in guinea pigs after dail y nasal administration of various chitosan solutions for 28 days. The chitosans tested were of various molecular weights and degree of deace tylation. The effect of the chitosans on the CBF was measured on the e xcised nasal tissue and compared to the effect of sodium taurodihydrof usidate and cocaine by means of a microscope connected to a video came ra mounted on the phototube and a data acquisition unit. The results s howed that none of the chitosans tested has any effect on the CBF as c ompared to the controls. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.