THE EFFECT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRACHEAL MUCOSA UPON THE DRAINAGE OF RESPIRATORY TRACT FLUID

Abstract

In urethanized, tracheal-cannulated rabbits, cats and dogs, the factors responsible for drainage of respiratory tract fluid (R.T.F.) are limited chiefly to ciliary drainage, skeletal muscular movements associated with the mechanics of respiration and contractions of the bronchial muscles of Reisseissen. When the tracheobronchial mucosa was damaged by inhalation of ammonia gas or live steam or by disease, the ciliary carpet had been destroyed and drainage of R.T.F. was restricted to about the normal output load. But when the tracheo-bronchial mucosa was intact, the drainage mechanism could accommodate loads of R.T.F. which had been augmented to many times the normal by cholinergic drugs, cervical vagus nerve stimulation or by other agents. It was estimated that the ciliary mechanism is geared to handle at least up to 100 times the normal output of R.T.F.