Characterization of metachronal wave of beating cilia on frog's palate epithelium in tissue culture.

1. A method is suggested to measure phase versus distance between beating cilia by means of a photoelectric device. A statistical method interpreting the results thus obtained is discussed. 2. It was found that: (a) an average phase exists between beating cilia, (b) despite strong fluctuations in phase on a short time scale, the average phase was kept constant over periods of 8 h, (c) the ciliary frequency and the length of the metachronal wave can be measured simultaneously. 3. The average phase differences are linearly dependent on distance. 4. The effective range of synchronization between cilia is of the order of 10 micron indicating that it occurs within one cell. 5. During the cycle of ciliary beating there are periods where coupling is stronger.