pH effects on ciliomotility and morphology of respiratory mucosa.

Tracheal cilia of cows exposed, in vitro, for 20 hours to different acidities and alkalinities of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, respectively, showed ciliomotility at pH values as low as 4.9, while the epithelial cells began to be expelled from the mucosa at pH 6.7, initiating a reduction of ciliary function around this pH value. In alkaline reactions, ciliostasis occurred at pH 9.76. Destroyed cilia were found above pH 10.15, while they were morphologically unchanged at pH values as low as 4.0, the lowest value examined. The first symptoms, however, of adverse effects were intracellular edema and the simultaneous occurrence of cellular polyps in both acid and alkaline reactions at pH 6.7 and 9.5, respectively. The results indicate that the early effects of air pollutants are better demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy studies than by, e.g., studies of ciliomotility.

[1]  M. Waters,et al.  Metal toxicity for rabbit alveolar macrophages in vitro. , 1975, Environmental research.

[2]  C. Voisin,et al.  Apport de la pH métrie bronchique in situ , 1971 .

[3]  Catherine A. Smith,et al.  Cytochemical factors and some ultrastructural aspects of the epithelium in the secretions from nasal inflammatory diseases , 1968 .

[4]  T. Jahn,et al.  The mechanism of ciliary movement. II. Ion antagonism and ciliary reversal. , 1962, Journal of cellular and comparative physiology.

[5]  R. Matsumoto.  STUDIES ON CILIATED EPITHELIUM OF NASAL CAVITIES AND PARANASAL SINUSES , 1958 .

[6]  T. F. Anderson,et al.  TECHNIQUES FOR THE PRESERVAATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE IN PREPARING SPECIMENS FOR THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE† , 1951 .

[7]  N. D. Fabricant.  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE pH OF NASAL SECRETIONS IN SITU , 1941 .

[8]  V. Negus.  The Action of Cilia and the Effect of Drugs on their Activity , 1934, Journal of Laryngology and Otology.

[9]  A. Hilding.  IV. Note on Some Changes in the Hydrogen Ion Concentration of Nasal Mucus , 1934 .

[10]  Catherine C. Buhrmester.  LXXXI.: A Study of The Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Nitrogen Content and Viscosity of Nasal Secretions. , 1933 .

[11]  A. Proetz.  LVII. Studies of Nasal Cilia in the Living Mammal , 1933 .

[12]  D. Wharton.  THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN TOXIC SUBSTANCES ON THE CILIATED EPITHELIUM OF THE GUINEA PIG , 1931 .

[13]  J. Gray.  The Mechanism of Ciliary Movement , 1922, The American Naturalist.

[14]  C. Haywood.  THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF pH AND CARBON DIOXIDE TENSION IN DETERMINING THE CESSATION OF CILIARY MOVEMENT IN ACIDIFIED SEA WATER , 1925, The Journal of general physiology.

[15]  J. Gray.  The Mechanism of Ciliary Movement. II.-The Effect of Ions on the Cell Membrane , 1922 .

[16]  R. Lillie.  THE RELATION OF IONS TO CONTRACTILE PROCESSES. —I. THE ACTION OF SALT SOLUTIONS ON THE CILIATED EPITHELIUM OF MYTILUS EDULIS , 1906 .