Effects of ionizing radiation on the activity of the ciliated epithelium of the trachea.

The immediate effect of ionizing radiation on the activity of the ciliated epithelium of the trachea has been investigated using a light reflection method. This method enables continuous registration of the mucociliary activity both during and after irradiation. A notable increase of the mucociliary activity occurred within 5 seconds after beginning of irradiation and this activity reached its maximum 10 seconds after initial exposure with a dose rate of 0.34 Gy/s (34 rad/s). The mechanism causing the phenomena observed is not clear but theoretically it might be due to ATP, the source of energy of the cilia being freed by the irradiation, possibly through disturbances of the permeability in the mitochondrion membranes.