Mucociliary Wave Pattern: A Comparative Analysis of Extracellular and Intracellular Activities

Abstract

Experimental in vitro studies have been made on the intracellular electrical activity and the extracellular wave movements of ciliary cells in rabbit trachea. The following results were obtained: 1. Surface light reflections from the mucous layer and from the ends of moving cilia showed about the same frequency and amplitude pattern as the intracellular action potential oscillations at 40°C and 50°C. At lower temperatures, however, there was a considerable discrepancy between them. 2. Surface light reflections from mucociliary wave movements had the same frequency in two areas 20 μm apart, but amplitude variations were out of phase. 3. Intracellular oscillations with a frequency of 18-21 per sec and a maximum amplitude of 1 mV have been recorded. Amplitude variations indicating rhythmical frequency variations have also been recorded. 4. The mean frequency of the intracellular action potential oscillations showed no remarkable differences at 20°C, 30°C, 40°C and 50°C.