Effect of BR-227, a new bromhexine derivative, on secretory activities of tracheal secretory cells.

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Abstract
The effects of BR-227 on secretory activities of canine tracheal secretory cells including behavior of mucus glycoproteins were investigated histologically and histochemically. Following BR-227 treatment at a concentration range of 10-6-10-4 M, the total number of goblet cells stained positively with a combination of acian blue at pH 2.5 and periodic acid-Schiff (AB (pH 2.5)/PAS) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. A decrease in the thickness of the acini of submucosal glands and a marked increase in the ratio of acinar inner diameter of the gland to tracheal wall were induced after application of BR-227 at a concentration range of 10-7-10-4 M. The numbers of goblet and submucosal glandular cells which stained blue and purple with AB (pH 2.5)/PAS were decreased by BR-227 treatment in a concentrations-dependent way, whereas the cells which stained red were markedly increased. In the experiment using a combination of AB at pH 1.0 and PAS, a decrease in sulfated glycoproteins in those secretory cells was observed. Total saccharide and protein concentrations in the incubation fluid increased with BR-227 treatment, while N-acetylhexosamine concentration tended to decrease. Evidently BR-227 stimulates secretory activities of both goblet cells and submucosal glands, and lowers mucus viscosity in the secretory cells.