Intra-epithelial palatine nerve endings and their regulation of ciliary activity of frog palate epithelium.

1. Direct contact between intra-epithelial nerve endings and ciliated cells was observed in frog (Rana pipiens) palate epithelium. 2. Electrical stimulation of the palatine nerve to the explant or the explant culture induced an increase in ciliary beat frequency in explant and outgrowth cells. 3. Atropine inhibited electrically stimulated ciliary beat frequency increase in the explant and outgrowth cells. 4. Gap junctional intercellular communication appears to be involved in the propagation of stimulated ciliary beat frequency increase from innervated to non-innervated ciliated cells.