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The ultrastructure of mouse tracheal epithelium was examined. The three cell types, basal cells, ciliated cells and goblet cells, described for other mammalian trachea were found to be present although goblet cells occurred only rarely. A cell type, termed the nonciliated cell, not described in other mammalian trachea was frequently found in mouse tracheal epithelium. These cells contained abundant smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, a large Golgi complex, and many mitochondria. There were many vesicles containing a n electron dense material near the luminal surface of these cells; these cells were positive for PAS. These features suggested a secretory function for the cells. This, along with the scarcity of goblet cells, suggested that the nonciliated cells of mouse tracheal epithelium fulfill the function of the goblet cells found in other mammalian trachea.

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Infusion of small amounts of blood plasma into isolated, isovolumic rabbit hearts perfused with Tyrode's solution resulted in coronary vasoconstriction followed by a decrease in left ventricular developed pressure and dP/dt. Maximal effects were obtained with a perfusate plasma concentration of 1%. Increasing the plasma concentration beyond 1% did not appreciably increase the coronary vasoconstriction. During perfusion with 2% plasma, the coronary flow-oxygen uptake ratio was unchanged over a range of perfusion pressures (40-100 mm Hg) and vascular resistance increased with pressure. In the absence of plasma, the coronary flow-oxygen uptake ratio increased with pressure and vascular resistance decreased. Thus, cardiac regulation of coronary flow in response to changes in perfusion pressure occurred in the presence of plasma but not in its absence. The effects of plasma were reduced with two different inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis (5,9,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid and indomethacin). At a perfusate concentration of 50 mug/ml, indomethacin abolished the effects of 2% plasma. Rat stomach strip bioassay for prostaglandin activity indicated that the vasoconstrictor effect of plasma was accompanied by a 4-fold increase in the release of prostaglandin activity by the isolated hearts. The vasoconstrictor effect of plasma also was accompanied by an increase in the conversion of 3H-arachidonate to radiolabeled prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha. These results indicate that a relationship exists between a coronary vasoconstrictor in plasma, cardiac prostaglandin synthesis, and the regulation of coronary flow in response to changes in perfusion pressure in isolated rabbit hearts.