Abstract
It is doubtless that the primary cause of pollinosis is type I allergic reaction. But when compared to other all-year-round allergy, there is certain difference between the two in regard to the symptoms and mode of onset of the disease. Also in view of the fact that the frequency of occurence of pollinosis is relatively few for bronchial asthma while it is high for nasal allergy, there is a possibility that respiratory tract allergy caused by pollen is not only caused by antigen-antibody reaction but also it has some relation with the stimulation of respiratory tract mucosa by certain components of pollen. In recent years, the study on the pollen components advanced and it has been reported that it contains various organic acids. The author suspected that oxalic acid and acetic acid which are contained commonly in all the pollen would have certain relation on the complicated pathology of pollinosis and studied the influence of these two organic acids on the mucosa of respiratory tract by observing the ciliary motive function and the conditions of mucous membrane.
The results are as follows:
1. Irreversible suspension of ciliary motion of nasal mucosa and tracheal mucosa of rabbit occured within several seconds when immersed in the 1/102-1/105 solution of oxalic acid and acetic acid.
2. In 1/106 solution, ciliary motion of nasal mucosa and tracheal mucosa of rabbit was found to stop within several minutes. In 1/107 solution, ciliary motion accentuated temporarily and then attenuated gradually but did not stop.
3. Ciliary motive function of human maxillary sinus mucosa indicated similar reaction to those of respiratory tract mucosa of rabbit in the solution of organic acids.
4. When nasal mucosa and tracheal mucosa of rabbit are immersed in organic acid solution, certain changes of cilia cytoplasma and nucleus were observed. When disturbance was remarkable defoliation or collapsing of pithelial cells was also observed.
