Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2006 Feb;49(2):174-181.

The Morphological Changes by the Time of Administration of Zanamivir in Rabbit Nasal Mucosa Infected with Influenza A Virus

• Park HJ
• Lim JW
• Rho YS
• Jung YG

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the differences in the morphologic changes of the nasal mucosa with influenza virus infection between zanamivir treated groups and non-treated group. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Zanamivir was administrated to the 15 rabbits before or after inoculation of the influenza viruses with time difference and 5 rabbits were inoculated the influenza viruses but not treated with zanamivir. The nasoturbinal mucosa was harvested and examined with the light microscope and electron microscope at 7th day after virus inoculation.
RESULTS
The light microscopy results revealed that the total inflammatory scores were decreased in the zanamivir treated group. The electron microscopy results showed that the degree of ciliary loss, vacuolar degeneration of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum and rupture of cell membrane in the zanamivir treated group was less than those in the untreated group. The effects of inoculated zanamivir was related to the time of administration and best timing was immediate after inoculation of the influenza A virus.
CONCLUSION
The use of zanamivir in the treatment of influenza A virus infection during the epidemic period is effective in controlling the inflammatory change.

Keyword

Influenza A virus; Zanamivir; Nasal mucosa

MeSH Terms

Cell Membrane
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Influenza A virus*
Influenza, Human*
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron
Mitochondria
Mucous Membrane
Nasal Mucosa*
Orthomyxoviridae
Rabbits
Rupture
Zanamivir*
Zanamivir