Whole body periodic acceleration in normal and reduced mucociliary clearance of conscious sheep

The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain whether nitric oxide (NO) released into the circulation by a noninvasive technology called whole body periodic acceleration (WBPA) could increase mucociliary clearance (MCC). It was based on observations by others that nitric oxide donor drugs increase ciliary beat frequency of nasal epithelium without increasing mucociliary clearance. Tracheal mucous velocity (TMV), a reflection of MCC, was measured in sheep after 1-hour treatment of WBPA and repeated after pretreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME to demonstrated action of NO. Aerosolized human neutrophil elastase (HNE) was administered to sheep to suppress TMV as might occur in cystic fibrosis and other inflammatory lung diseases. WBPA increased TMV to a peak of 136% of baseline 1h after intervention, an effect blocked by L-NAME. HNE reduced TMV to 55% of baseline but slowing was reversed by WBPA, protection lost in the presence of L-NAME. NO released into the circulation from eNOS by WBPA can acutely access airway epithelium for improving MCC slowed in cystic fibrosis and other inflammatory lung diseases as a means of enhancing host defense against pathogens.