<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Aim:</bold> N-acetylcysteine is the prototype of mucolytic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effect of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine on airway reactivity, cough reflex and ciliary beat frequency and parameters of mentioned defense mechanisms were assessed in physiological conditions.<bold>Methods:</bold> An experiment was performed using healthy guinea pigs treated with inhaled (0.6 M; 5min) and oral N-acetylcysteine (20 mg/kg), administrated either acutely as a single dose or chronically during 7 days. The cough reflex and specific airway resistance were assessed by <italic>in vivo</italic> method, using a double chamber plethysmograph box. The ciliary beat frequency was evaluated in <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions on tracheal brushed samples using light microscope coupled to high speed video camera.<bold>Results:</bold> Inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine, either administrated as a single dose or during 7 days, have shown a tendency to decrease sensitivity of the cough reflex and increase the airway reactivity. Acute administration of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine had no statistically relevant effect on the ciliary beat frequency, whereas chronic administration of both inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine led to a marked reduction in the ciliary beat frequency.<bold>Conclusion</bold>: Chronic administration of oral and inhaled N-acetylcysteine had a negative impact on the ciliary beat frequency, which represents one of the key factors determining the rate of mucociliary clearance. Thus, administration of N-acetylcysteine is less likely to increase the expulsion of mucus by ciliary movement. In addition, the observed tendency of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine to increase the airway reactivity may limit its use in conditions with severe airflow obstruction.</abstract>

Aim: N-acetylcysteine is the prototype of mucolytic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effect of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine on airway reactivity, cough reflex and ciliary beat frequency and parameters of mentioned defense mechanisms were assessed in physiological conditions.Methods: An experiment was performed using healthy guinea pigs treated with inhaled (0.6 M; 5min) and oral N-acetylcysteine (20 mg/kg), administrated either acutely as a single dose or chronically during 7 days. The cough reflex and specific airway resistance were assessed by in vivo method, using a double chamber plethysmograph box. The ciliary beat frequency was evaluated in in vitro conditions on tracheal brushed samples using light microscope coupled to high speed video camera.Results: Inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine, either administrated as a single dose or during 7 days, have shown a tendency to decrease sensitivity of the cough reflex and increase the airway reactivity. Acute administration of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine had no statistically relevant effect on the ciliary beat frequency, whereas chronic administration of both inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine led to a marked reduction in the ciliary beat frequency.Conclusion: Chronic administration of oral and inhaled N-acetylcysteine had a negative impact on the ciliary beat frequency, which represents one of the key factors determining the rate of mucociliary clearance. Thus, administration of N-acetylcysteine is less likely to increase the expulsion of mucus by ciliary movement. In addition, the observed tendency of inhaled and oral N-acetylcysteine to increase the airway reactivity may limit its use in conditions with severe airflow obstruction.

Effect of inhaled and oral n-acetylcysteine on airway defense mechanism

Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Biomedical Centre Martin

Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Pharmacology

European Pharmaceutical Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Effect of inhaled and oral n-acetylcysteine on airway defense mechanism"}

Aim: N-acetylcysteine is the prototype of mucolytic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effect of inhaled and oral...

Effect of inhaled and oral n-acetylcysteine on airway defense mechanism

Published Online: Nov 10, 2017

Page range: 17 - 21

Received: Dec 13, 2016

Accepted: Dec 14, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/afpuc-2017-0002

Keywords
N-acetylcysteine, mucus clearance, ciliary beat frequency, airway reactivity

© 2017 Pappová L. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of inhaled and oral n-acetylcysteine on airway defense mechanism

Published Online: Nov 10, 2017

Page range: 17 - 21

Received: Dec 13, 2016

Accepted: Dec 14, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/afpuc-2017-0002

KeywordsN-acetylcysteine, mucus clearance, ciliary beat frequency, airway reactivity

© 2017 Pappová L. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
N-acetylcysteine, mucus clearance, ciliary beat frequency, airway reactivity