Behavior of mucus glycoproteins of tracheal secretory cells following L-cysteine methyl ester treatment.

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Abstract
The effects of L-cysteine methyl ester on behavior of mucus glycoproteins in canine tracheal secretory cells were investigated histologically and histochemically. Low concentrations (10-7 and 10-6 M) of L-cysteine methyl ester produced, as histological changes, decreases in the total goblet cell number and the thickness of the acini of submucosal glands and an increease in the acinar inner diameter. L-Cysteine methyl ester at 10-5 and 10-4 M produced an increase in the thickness of the acini and a slight decrease in the acinar inner diameter. Both the total acid glycoprotein and sulfated glycoprotein content in the cells increased following L-cysteine methyl ester treatment in a concentration-dependent way. Total saccharide and protein concentrations in the incubation fluid increased with 10-7 and 10-6 M, but decreased with 10-5 and 10-4 M L-cysteine methyl ester. N-Acetylhexosamine concentration in the bathing fluid increased at 10-7 and 10-6 M of the agent. Evidently, low concentrations of L-cysteine methyl ester stimulates synthesis of mucus glycoproteins in the submucosal glands. L-Cysteine methyl ester may have a marked viscosity lowering effect on the mucus in the secretory cells.