Dexmedetomidine and fentanyl exhibit temperature dependent effects on human respiratory cilia
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Background: Dexmedetomidine (dex) is commonly used in intensive care due to its effective sedation and analgesia with few adverse effects and minimal respiratory depression. However, we recently observed that exposing mouse epithelial respiratory cells to dex decreased ciliary beat frequency (CBF), suggesting dex may pose pulmonary risk. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of dex at clinically relevant doses on CBF in human respiratory epithelia. Methods: Human nasal epithelial cilia were obtained from the inferior nasal turbinate with a rhinoprobe and placed in culture medium at 15 degrees C and 37 degrees C. At 5 and 30 min, video-microscopy was used to assess CBF, either without (control) or with different concentrations (1, 5, and 10 nM) of dex, fentanyl (fen), and dex + fen combination. Results: At 15 degrees C, CBF was lower in the dex group compared to controls at 5 and 30 min. At 37 degrees C, there was a significant increase in CBF with dex at 5 and 30 min, except for dex at 5 nM after 5 min, which showed a significant decrease. At 15 degrees C the combination of dex + fen showed a positive interaction, causing less ciliary inhibition as expected. In contrast, no interaction between drugs was seen between dex and fen at 37 degrees C. Conclusion: At low temperatures, dex reduces CBF in human respiratory epithelia, whereas dex increases CBF at physiologic temperature in vitro. Whether these effects translate into clinical consequences during hypothermia, as with cardiopulmonary bypass surgery will require further studies.
Journal
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
3
ISBN/ISSN
2296-2360
Edition
N/A
Issue
N/A
Pages Count
6
Location
N/A
Publisher
Frontiers Research
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.3389/fped.2015.00007