Abstract
We investigated the effect of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) on tracheal mucociliary transport in anesthetized quails. Topical application of HNE (30-300 μg/kg) to tracheal mucosa dosedependently decreased mucociliary transport velocity (MCTV). The HNE (300 μg/kg)-induced decrease in MCTV was blocked by ONO-5046·Na (sodium N-[2-[4-(2, 2-dimethylpropionyloxy)phenyl-sulfonylamino]benzoyl]aminoacetate tetrahydrate) (3-30 mg/kg, i.m.), a specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor. Furthermore, we found that HNE increased DNA, fucose and protein contents of tracheal lavages, and the increases were also reverted by ONO-5046·Na. These results indicated that HNE decreased tracheal mucociliary transport, and the decrease may be, at least in part, ascribed to the deterioration of tracheal secretions.
