OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of oxymetazoline hydrochloride on ex vivo human nasal cilia movement.

METHODSCiliary beat frequency (CBF) of cultured human nasal epithelial cells was measured by high-speed digital microscopy in HBSS and oxymetazoline hydrochloride of different concentrations in 20 minutes. RESULTS; CBF of cultured nasal epithelial cells in HBSS and 0.25 g/L oxymetazoline hydrochloride did not show significant changes in 20 minutes (F = 0.098, P = 1.00). However, in 0.50 g/L and 1.00 g/L oxymetazoline hydrochloride, CBF increased slightly in 3 -4 minutes and reached the apex, then decreased gradually. At the end of observation, CBF showed no significant difference in 0.50 g/L, (F = 2.94, P = 0.05) but there was a significant lower CBF in 1.00 g/L. In the first 3 minutes, the CBF in 2.00 g/L oxymetazoline hydrochloride was stable, and then slowed gradually. After 16 minutes, there was significant difference. In initial, the highest normalized CBF of each group showed no significant difference. However, the lowest normalized CBF of 1.00 and 2.00 g/L oxymetazoline hydrochloride showed a significant difference with HBSS, 0.25 and 0.50 g/L oxymetazoline hydrochloride.

CONCLUSIONSOxymetazoline had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on cultured human nasal CBF from 0.25 to 2.00 g/L. The inhibitory effect increased with the concentration going up. Oxymetazoline hydrochloride of 0.50 g/L might be the optimal choice for clinical application.