Intra- and extracellular activity of ciliated cells

A method permitting simultaneous recording in vitro of the intracellular and extracellular ( = mucociliary) activity of respiratory ciliated mucous membrane is presented. Using this method the influence of different temperature levels (20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees C) upon the tracheal mucous membrane of 15 rabbits has been investigated. It is shown 1) that the extracellular ( = mucociliary) activity increases with rising temperatures whereas the intracellular activity is unaffected and remains constant, indicating a temperature influence upon the respiratory tract mucus rather than a change of the intracellular "pace-maker" mechanism; 2) that the restraining effect of the mucus decreases with rising temperatures but is still 10% of the intracellular frequency at body temperature; 3) that the presented method should be useful for future investigations concerning the effect of air-pollution and pharmacological substances upon respiratory mucous membranes.