A pharmacological evaluation of the short-term effect of cigarette smoke on mucociliary activity.

The effect of whole cigarette smoke on mucociliary (m.c.) activity was recorded in the maxillary sinus in anesthetized rabbits. Puffs of cigarette smoke were delivered in a way that imitates the normal smoking habit in man. Cigarette smoke from nicotinic cigarettes was found to accelerate the m.c. wave frequency in proportion to the nicotine content. Smoke from nicotine-free cigarettes and exposure to oxygen did not influence the m.c. activity. The stimulating effect of smoke drawn from nicotine cigarettes was inhibited by hexamethonium (0.2 mg/kg i.a.) and by atropine (0.2 mg/kg i.a.). It is concluded that the accelerating effect on the m.c. activity of short-term exposure to cigarette smoke might be explained by stimulation of ganglion nicotinic receptors situated on parasympathetic postganglionic nerve cells.