EFFECT OF INFLUENZA VIRUS ON CILIA AND EPITHELIAL CELLS IN THE BRONCHI OF MICE

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Abstract
In order to determine the effect of infection with influenza virus on bronchial cilia of the mouse, ciliary beat has been visualized directly by microscopic examination of the bronchi in slices of fresh lung. Cilia have been shown also in sections of fixed tissue by the use of special silver staining methods. The results have shown persistence of the cilia in spite of severe viral infection and indicate that the lowered resistance to secondary pneumococcal infection which occurs in influenzal pneumonia of the mouse is not due to interference with the ciliary mechanism. By a process of exclusion, the findings give further support to the theory that lowered resistance to pneumococcal infection in influenzal pneumonia is due to edema fluid in the viral lesion furnishing a culture medium for inhaled pneumococci.