Effect of beclomethasone dipropionate on nasal metachromatic cell sub-populations.

Abstract

The effect has been investigated of local administration of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) on cell numbers of nasal epithelial metachromatic cell (NMC) sub-populations. Twenty-one patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were studied in four groups according to the duration of treatment or after treatment with BDP. Nasal scrapings were taken after 1 week (Group 1) or 2 weeks (Group 2) of BDP treatment, or after discontinuing BDP for 1 week (Group 3) or 2 weeks (Group 4). Cells were fixed with Mota's lead acetate or 10% buffered formalin followed by toluidine blue staining to count the number of NMC and to classify these according to morphological sub-types (basophils or mast cells). Formalin-sensitive mast cells and basophils in nasal scrapings were reduced more than formalin-resistant mast cells with BDP treatment. Formalin-sensitive mast cells were also more prompt to recover from BDP than formalin-resistant mast cells. The results suggest that the formalin-sensitive NMC is a sub-population of cells which responds to BDP treatment in allergic rhinitis.

• Authors: H Otsuka, J A Denburg, A D Befus, D Hitch, P Lapp, R S Rajan, J Bienenstock, J Dolovich
• Journal: Clinical allergy (Clin Allergy) Vol. 16 Issue 6 Pg. 589-95 (Nov 1986) ISSN: 0009-9090 [Print] England
• PMID: 3791633 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Formaldehyde
• Beclomethasone

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Basophils (drug effects)
• Beclomethasone (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Cell Count
• Epithelial Cells
• Epithelium (drug effects)
• Formaldehyde (pharmacology)
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• Mast Cells (drug effects)
• Nasal Mucosa (cytology, drug effects)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (drug therapy)