Background. Mucociliary transport (MCT) is a defense mechanism of the airway. To study the underlying mechanisms of MCT, we have both developed an experimental model of cultures, from human adenoid tissue of ciliated and secretory cells, and characterized the response to local chemical signals that control ciliary activity and the secretion of respiratory mucins in vitro. Materials and Methods. In ciliated cell cultures, ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and intracellular Ca2+ levels were measured in response to ATP, UTP, and adenosine. In secretory cultures, mucin synthesis and secretion were identified by using immunodetection. Mucin content was taken from conditioned medium and analyzed in the presence or absence of UTP. Results. Enriched ciliated cell monolayers and secretory cells were obtained. Ciliated cells showed a basal CBF of 10.7 Hz that increased significantly after exposure to ATP, UTP, or adenosine. Mature secretory cells showed active secretion of granules containing different glycoproteins, including MUC5AC. Conclusion. Culture of ciliated and secretory cells grown from adenoid epithelium is a reproducible and feasible experimental model, in which it is possible to observe ciliary and secretory activities, with a potential use as a model to understand mucociliary transport control mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to determine if olfactory thresholds are influenced by removal of other sensory inputs, namely hearing and sight. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted whereby 50 consecutive olfactory threshold tests in total where performed on four subjects (mean age of 38 years; range 29 years to 60 years) over a three-month period in 2006. Each subject underwent threshold testing with the odor phenethyl alcohol using a computer-driven olfactometer device. Subjects were tested both with a blindfold and ear-defenders, and then without, and this order was randomised. These olfactory thresholds were compared and analysed for a statistical difference. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the olfactory thresholds performed with visual and auditory deprivation, and the olfactory thresholds without visual and auditory deprivation (p Ͼ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Olfactory thresholds are not significantly influenced by visual or auditory deprivation.