Regeneration of cilia after injury has been assumed but not proved. Using scanning electron microscopy, the presence of many organelles shorter and thinner than cilia on topical decongestant damaged nasal mucosa was noted. Their similarity to microvilli and the failure to demonstrate any cilia except those of standard length, would appear to make it unlikely that cilia regrowth occurs after chronic use of topical decongestants.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RhodinJAG: Ultrastructure and function of human tracheal mucosa. Am Rev Respir Dis93: 1–15, 1966.
2.
WelchMJStiehmERCarneyJM: The nasal acilia syndrome. Laryngoscope, to be published.
3.
DudleyJPCherryJD: Effects of topical nasal decongestants on the cilia of a chicken embryo tracheal organ culture system. Laryngoscope88: 110–116, 1978.
4.
Stuart-HarrisCH: The influenza viruses and the human respiratory tract. Rev Infect Dis1: 592–599, 1979.
5.
CherryJDTaylor-RobinsonD: Large quantity production of chicken embryo tracheal organ cultures and use in virus and mycoplasma studies. Appl Microbiol19: 658–662, 1970.