DEGENERATION OF HUMAN RESPIRATORY CELL CILIARY BEAT IN MONOLAYER CELL-CULTURES

The degeneration of ciliary beat of human respiratory cells was studie d in monolayer cell cultures by using a differential interference micr oscope equipped with a high speed video system. This method for studyi ng ciliary beat in cell cultures on collagen-coated cover glasses is q uite advantageous, because it allows for detailed study of all parts o f ciliary function and not just ciliary beat frequency (CBF). In the p resent study both CBF and ciliary beat amplitude (CBA) were found to d ecrease continuously from the lst day after plating but the wave form of ciliary beat did not change. Cultures with high cell density provid ed better preservation of normal ciliary beat for a longer period. In contrast, ciliary beat degenerated quickly in cultures with low cell d ensity. CBF and CBA in cell cultures less than 5 days after plating we re always high, supporting use of these cultures for studies of normal ciliary motility.