[Isolation and observation of ciliated cells from guinea pig's nasal epithelium].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nasal physiological function at a cellular level and to establish a method for isolating single ciliated cells from guinea pig's nasal epithelium.


METHODS
The ciliated cells were isolated by means of mechanical dissociation after papain treatment and a differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope was used for 1000-fold observation (objective lens: 100-fold; eye piece: 10-fold).


RESULTS
A total of 12,587 single ciliated cells could be isolated from nasal epithelium of each guinea pig. The criteria for good viability of isolated nasal ciliated cells include: (1) actively motile cilia; (2) a smooth cytoplasmic membrane; (3) cytoplasm in a state of translucence (birefringence); (4) cells neither swollen nor shrunk. With short term culture at room temperature, the isolated nasal ciliated cells retained a good viability for 2-9 hours or longer. The living ciliated cells showed swing motions of cilia with fast and slow phases at a rate of 51-119 times per minute.


CONCLUSIONS
A method for isolating ciliated cells from guinea pig's nasal epithelium and a criteria for good viability of isolated ciliated cells have been established. Ciliary motion pattern and ciliary beating frequency were also studied.
Su
Z
Z
PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853.
Sun
Y
Y
Yang
W
W
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure