The mucociliary activity of the respiratory tract. I. Inhibitory effects of products of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on rabbit trachea in vitro.

Bacteriological filtrates of three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were compared with respect to inhibitory effect on ciliary movements and a quantitative difference was established between them. The cilia inhibitory effect was strictly concentration-dependent and was resistant to heating. The ciliotoxic effect disappeared from filtrates after chloroform extraction. The chloroform-extracted sediment ws dissolved in physiological saline and the solution revealed an inhibitory effect on cilia. Involvement of endotoxin is not probable, since E. coli endotoxin in a high concentration was not toxic. Partially purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenazine pigment as well as haemolysin inhibited ciliary activity and the effect was standardized in the present experimental system.