Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of L-arginine on ciliary beat frequency(CBF) in rabbit tracheal epithelial cells. Methods Cultured rabbit tracheal explants were treated with 10 mmol/L L-arginine and 100 μmol/L N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), the CBF was measured by high-speed digital microscopy. Results 1 CBF of epithelial cells in Hank's balanced salt solution(HBSS) control group showed no significant changes in 25 min. 2 CBF increased with time in 10 mmol/L L-arginine-treated group, significant changes were observed at 20 min and 25 min treatment. 3 Pretreatment with 100 μmol/L L-NAME for 10 min blocked the increase of CBF by 10 mmol/L L-arginine, CBF showed no significant changes compared with control group. 4 100 μmol/L L-NAME treatment for 35 min did not change CBF of ciliary cells. Conclusion L-arginine increased CBF of rabbit tracheal epithelial cells via the nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide(NOS-NO) signal pathway.

Key words: nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, arginine, cilia