Studies of Ciliary Mucus Transport in a Closed Cabin Atmosphere

In an attempt to determine what effect, if any, a sealed cabin atmosphere might have on living tissue, observations of frog tissue were made during a routine patrol of a Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) submarine. Ciliary mucus flow rates were determined in the esophageal tissue of frogs, since results with these tissues have proved comparable to mammalian respiratory cilia. Bottles of surface air were taken aboard the submarine to permit comparison of tissues exposed to this normal air with those exposed to the ambient air of the submarine. Results showed a definite decrement in ciliary activity in those tissues exposed to submarine air. In addition, sprouted seeds of vegetables and flowers were taken aboard. Despite all efforts to maintain their nutrition and light exposure, they ceased to grow and after 3 weeks had turned brown and died. Ion activity which might account for these results is discussed and further investigation is recommended.