Influence of reproterol on ciliary beat frequency of human bronchial epithelium in vitro.

With a recently developed method it is possible to measure ciliary beat frequency of human bronchial epithelium in vitro. By means of brush biopsy, mucosa is taken from a region of the tracheo-bronchial tree and is then put into nutrient solution. Action of the cilia can be observed under a phase contrast microscope and is transferred by a photocell onto an oscillograph. The study was performed in 15 patients; mucosal samples were taken from both the trachea and the main bronchus. It proved that the beat frequency of cilia obtained from both the trachea and the main bronchus was significantly increased by 7-[3-(beta, 3,5-trihydroxyphenethylamino)-propyl]-theophylline (reproterol, Bronchospasmin), as compared to those samples without reproterol.