Effect of halothane on cilia beat frequency of ciliated human respiratory epithelium in vitro

• Published in: British journal of anaesthesia : BJA Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 507 - 510
• Main Authors: GYI, A., O'CALLAGHAN, C., LANGTON, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1994; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Anaesthetics volatile; Anaesthetics volatile, halothane; Anesthetics. Neuromuscular blocking agents; Biological and medical sciences; cilia; Cilia - drug effects; Cilia - physiology; Culture Techniques; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epithelium - drug effects; halothane; Halothane - pharmacology; Humans; Lung; Lung, cilia; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Mucociliary Clearance - drug effects; Nasal Cavity - drug effects; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Time Factors; Lung, cilia; Anaesthetics volatile, halothane; Volatile compound; Human; Respiratory tract; Beat frequency; General anesthetic; Respiratory epithelium; Nose; Ciliated cell; In vitro; Cilia
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/73.4.507

The effect of halothane on human ciliated nasal epithelium was studied in vitro. Samples from 24 healthy adult volunteers were exposed to halothane in varying concentrations and cilia beat frequency was measured using the transmitted light technique. Mean cilia beat frequency was measured at 30-min intervals. There was a significant decrease in cilia beat frequency at 2 h in samples that were exposed to halothane (mean 8.4 (SD 2.5) Hz, 9.18 (2.6) Hz and 6.99 (4.9) Hz) compared with air (10.8 (2.7) Hz, 11.6 (2.1) Hz and 12.1 (2.3) Hz) (p< 0.01). The coefficient of variation of cilia beat frequency measurements increased after exposure to halothane. There was no change in the cilia beat frequency of controls exposed to air over a 3-h period.