EFFECT OF HUMAN NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE ON TRACHEAL MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORTIN ANESTHETIZED QUAILS

We investigated the effect of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) on trach eal mucociliary transport in anesthetized quails. Topical application of HNE (30-300 mu g/kg) to tracheal mucosa dose-dependently decreased mucociliary transport velocity (MCTV). The HNE (300 mu g/kg)-induced d ecrease in MCTV was blocked by ONO-5046 . Na (sodium [4-(2,2-dimethylp ropionyloxy)phenyl-sulfonylamino] benzoyl]aminoacetate tetrahydrate) ( 3-30 mg/kg, i.m.), a specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor. Furthermo re, we found that HNE increased DNA, fucose and protein contents of tr acheal lavages, and the increases were also reverted by ONO-5046 . Na. These results indicated that HNE decreased tracheal mucociliary trans port, and the decrease may be, at least in part, ascribed to the deter ioration of tracheal secretions.