EFFECTS OF EXPECTORANTS ON THE CANINE TRACHEAL CILIATED CELLS

概要

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Many expectorants are clinically effective as they reduce viscosity and facilitate expectoration. There are, however, few reports on effects of expectorants on tracheal ciliated cells. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine, ethylcysteine and bromhexine on the ciliary activities of the canine trachea. Ciliary movement was estimated using a phototransistor, and intracellular electrical activity was measured with a microelectrode method, in vitro. N-Acetylcysteine, ethylcysteine and bromhexine in low concentrations under a low perfusion rate (0.1 ml/min) produced an increase in the amplitude and frequency of ciliary beating, while N-acetylcysteine and ethylcysteine caused a cilio-depression in high concentrations. N-Acetylcysteine, ethylcysteine and bromhexine, under a low perfusion rate, did not affect the intracellular electrical activity. On the other hand, these three drugs under a high perfusion rate (1 ml/min) produced no change in the ciliary movement and the intracellular electrical activity in concentrations of 10-8-10-4 M. These results suggest that the increase in ciliary activity produced by the mucolytic drugs is not due to a direct effect on the ciliated cells, but rather to a mucolytic effect on the mucus around the cilia.
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