Blood Flow in the Rabbit Sinus Mucosa During Experimentally Induced Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis was induced in New Zealand White rabbits. Access to the sinus cavity in question was obtained through a hole drilled in the dorsum of the nose, and for induction of sinusitis either cotton wool together with a suspension of 10(8) Streptococcus pneumoniae was introduced, or this method was combined with blocking of the sinus ostium with methacrylate. In 9 rabbits (weight range 3.6-5.0 kg), blood flow was determined 5 weeks-9 months after the induction of sinusitis, at a point in time when heavy inflammatory signs were present. The blood flow was determined both with radioactively labelled microspheres 16 +/- 1.5 micron in diameter and with Rb86Cl. Cardiac output as determined with the microsphere method was 127 +/- 28 ml X min-1 X 1 000 g-1. The blood flow in the sinus mucosa was 0.60 +/- 0.16 ml X min-1 X g-1 with the microsphere method and 0.51 +/- 0.20 ml X min-1 X g-1 with use of Rb86Cl. These values did not differ significantly from the corresponding values found previously in healthy rabbits.