Mucous systems show a novel mechanical response to applied deformation.

Mucous secretions have a wide range of biological functions that are intimately linked with their rheological properties. In addition, many mucous secretions are exposed to significant stress and deformation during physiological function. This study has examined the rheological response of three mucous systems, native pig gastric mucus, purified mucin gels, and mucin alginate gels, to increasing applied stress to a level sufficient to induce flow behavior. A novel, frequency-dependent stress hardening was observed in all three systems. This hardening behavior may play a significant role in the ability of mucous systems to resist mechanical disruption in the physiological state.