RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ciliary activity of respiratory epithelium is affected in allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into an unsensitized control group and sensitized allergic group. The sensitized group was immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin, followed by intranasal administration of ovalbumin. Allergy was determined by an increase in nasal symptoms, the number of tissue eosinophils and a positive result to a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test. Nasal, nasopharyneal, tracheal, and bronchial epithelial cells were obtained from both the control and allergic groups. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured using a video-computerized analysis technique in vitro. We compared the CBF of two groups in each site. We also evaluated the findings of the nasal mucosa of both groups with an scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: In vitro CBF measurement demonstrated that the CBF of the control and allergic groups did not differ significantly (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: CBF is not affected by respiratory allergy.