PROGRESS IN THE MEASUREMENT OF CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY BY AUTOMATED IMAGE-ANALYSIS - APPLICATION TO MAMMALIAN TRACHEAL EPITHELIUM

The investigations on the activity of respiratory ciliae in vivo are o f considerable interest for the study of physiopathological disorders resulting from chronic infection or inhaled pollutants. We present an image analysis method for the measurement of ciliary beat frequency on mammal or human in vivo samples. Videofilm sequences of samples place d under the microscope were analyzed frame by frame by image analysis. The operator defines on the screen several areas of interest on the c ell apex. The variation of grey levels in each areas allows the calcul ation of ciliary beat parameters. This method permits one to investiga te the effects of pharmacological agents or noxious pollutants on cili ae beating and the physiological causes underlying them. Our results o n rabbits were in agreement with the data published in literature, sho wing no significant difference between intratracheal frequencies obtai ned at medium and lower levels. The upper level near the cracoid carti lage has shown a greater variability than the other two levels with hi gher beating frequencies, a difference of likely physiological importa nce.