Diffusion of charged ions in mucus gel: effect of net charge.

The interposition of a neutral starch gel greatly retarded bulk ionic movement by free flow. A mucus (charged) gel preparation of identical concentration and thickness further retarded ionic diffusion. The findings suggest that the charges in the mucus matrix may exert an ionic exclusion effect (Donnan Exclusion), thus retarding other ionic diffusion. We speculate that a mucus layer may physiologically behave as an ion exchange gel column and modify the traffic of charged ions through it.