Ciliary beat of cultured human respiratory cells studied with differential interference microscope and high speed video system.

The ciliary beating of upper respiratory tract cells cultured on cover glasses was studied by using differential interference microscope equipped with high speed video. By culturing the cells on collagen coated cover glasses, objectives with higher magnifications could be used. With this system we could evaluate not only ciliary beat frequency, but also amplitude, wave form, orientation and synchrony of ciliary beating. Also some structural anomalies such as compound cilia and tide cilia bundles could be recognized. Ciliary beat frequency measured from 1,026 ciliated cells was 20.6 +/- 4.7 Hz (mean +/- SD). The orientation of ciliary beat directions was random and the mean standard deviation for measured angles was 73.0 degrees +/- 28.9 degrees (mean SD +/- SD). When the ciliary beat frequency was 20 Hz, the time used for effective phase was 0.022 +/- 0.002 s (mean +/- SD), and 0.028 +/- 0.004 s (mean +/- SD) for the recovery phase of beat. This system is advantageous for studying ciliary function because all parts can be studied simultaneously with higher magnification, and the effects of chemical physical mediators can be studied without disturbing effects of the autonomic nervous system or secretory cells. Also, the same cells could be observed before and after challenge with test medication and thus evaluated more accurately.