Platelet activating factor (PAF) effects on ciliary activity of human paranasal sinus mucosa in vitro

The effect of PAF on ciliary activity was investigated in vitro. Normal human paranasal sinus mucosa was obtained from the ethmoid sinuses by surgical procedure and incubated in the form of tissue culture. Mucosal surface profile was viewed under an inverted microscope and ciliary activity was photoelectrically measured. Ciliary inhibition was significantly induced after a 60 min period of incubation with 10(-8) M PAF in vitro followed by irrigation. However, when the mucosa was irrigated after a 15 min incubation period the ciliary activity showed no remarkable change. The effect of 10(-8) M PAF on ciliary activity was completely blocked when pre-incubated and then incubated with 10(-6) M CV-3988 (a specific PAF receptor antagonist); however, it was moderately inhibited when only preincubated with CV-3988. These data indicate that PAF specifically affects ciliated cells in the first 60 min after the challenge.