CARBOCISTEINE IMPROVES THE MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORT RATE IN RATS WITH SO2-INDUCED BRONCHITIS

In order to study the effect of carbocisteine on the mucociliary funct ion of the respiratory tract, we performed a double-blind study on rat s with SO2-induced (400 ppm) hypersecretion. During the experimental b ronchitis, the treated group of rats received carbocisteine through a stomach tube at a dose level of 500 mg/kg for 15 days, whereas the unt reated group of rats received distilled water. After killing the rats, and following lung excision, the respiratory mucus was scraped off an d collected by using a glass capillary. The mucus degree of purulence was macroscopically estimated and the mucus transport rate was measure d by using the frog palate technique. The mean mucus relative transpor t rate, measured on the frog palate, was 0.60 +/- 0.17 in the untreate d group and was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the treated group ( 0.73 +/- 0.14). Carbocisteine also significantly altered (P < 0.01) th e mucus macroscopical aspect, leading to a decrease in the number of r ats with purulent mucus. These results suggest that carbocisteine main tains an efficient mucus transport rate, leading to a less infected re spiratory tract.