The effects of mometasone furoate and strontium chloride in a rat model of allergic rhinitis.

Neurogenic inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis. Highly effective in reducing the sensory irritation caused by some substances, strontium salts directly affect C-type nerve fibers. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of mometasone furoate and strontium chloride on early-phase symptoms in a rat model of allergic rhinitis. Wistar albino rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into three groups: the mometasone group, receiving 1 μg mometasone furoate (2 µl/site); the strontium 3% group, receiving 3% strontium chloride (2 μl/site); and the strontium 5% group, receiving 5% strontium chloride (2 μl/site). To induce significant nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis, 5 µmol of histamine dihydrochloride (HDC) (2 µl/site) was administered. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were recorded as frequencies of sneezing and nasal rubbing during a 15-minute interval. On days 1 and 2, respectively, 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) (2 μl/site to each nasal cavity) and HDC were administered in all of the study groups. On days 3 and 4, the study drugs were administered 10 and 30 minutes before the administration of HDC. On day 5, the study drugs were administered 10 minutes after the administration of HDC. The results of the present study revealed that when strontium chloride or mometasone furoate was administered 30 minutes before the onset of symptoms, a significant decrease was observed in sneezing and nasal rubbing. The number of sneezing occurrences was significantly lower and the number of nasal rubbing occurrences was higher in the strontium 3% group compared to the groups in which mometasone furoate and 5% strontium chloride were administered after onset of symptoms. Recent studies have investigated the efficacy and safety of strontium chloride nasal drops compared with common pharmacologic treatments of allergic rhinitis. These studies have revealed that allergic rhinitis can be successfully and safely treated with strontium-chloride-containing products, thus offering a potential new treatment strategy.