Decreased ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in the nasal polyp epithelium

Objective We investigated the difference in ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in ex vivo and the difference in the expressions of associated molecules (M1/M3 muscarinic receptors, pannexin‐1 and P2X7 purinergic receptor) between the nasal polyp and turbinate mucosa. Study design Laboratorial study. Participants Nasal polyp and inferior turbinate were collected from patients with hypertrophic rhinitis and/or nasal polyp during endoscopic sinonasal surgery. Main outcome measures The mucosa was cut into thin strips, and ciliary movement was observed under a phase‐contrast light microscope equipped with a high‐speed digital video camera. The samples were also examined by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Results Cilia were well preserved in both tissues at the ultrastructural level. The baseline ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was not different between the two tissues. The CBF of the turbinate was significantly increased by stimulation with acetylcholine (P