Measurement of ciliary beat frequency using high-speed video microscopy

Studies on the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of frog palate epithelium are described. A high-speed video microscope system was used to record ciliary activity at 60 and 180 fields per second (fps). Temperature-controlled experiments were facilitated by a specially designed observation chamber. A total of 1150 measurements were performed on intact tissue (edge and surface observations) and single cells. The overall mean values of CBF at 60 fps (18.8 Hz) and 180 fps (19.1 Hz) were statistically indistinguishable (p less than 0.05). A temperature variation of 0.235 Hz/degree C was obtained for the range 24-27 degrees C. Comparison of results by two observers at both field rates indicated no statistical differences. The variation of CBF with time after collection was also not significant. It was determined that measurements obtained from the edge and single-cell recordings were preferable to those obtained from surface observations.