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Fig. 2 | Respiratory Research

Fig. 2

From: Mucus threads from surface goblet cells clear particles from the airways

Fig. 2

Mucus threads were secreted by surface goblet cells. A Image sequence from a low-resolution time-lapse where beads were collected by threads on an explanted WT piglet trachea. Arrow points to moving mucus assemblies and arrowhead to long mucus formation with increasing thickness. Speed of corresponding movie (Additional file 3) increased 16×. B The lectin UEA1 (blue) stained bead-collecting assemblies (red), low-resolution image of explanted WT piglet trachea. C Low-resolution image of explanted live UEA-stained (red) WT piglet trachea. Yellow arrows indicate surface goblet cells and white arrows point to threads secreted from the goblet cells. D High-resolution Airyscan Z-stack of explanted live WT piglet trachea stained with Syto 59 (DNA, grey) and UEA1 (mucus, red). Yellow arrows indicate surface goblet cells and white arrows point to threads secreted from the goblet cells. E Scanning electron micrographs from three different WT piglet tracheas. Threads from secreting goblet cells (sGC) are indicated by green arrows. Some goblet cells (GC) were not secreting. F Scanning electron micrograph of mucus bundle originating in a submucosal gland. Note that the mucus bundle is thicker than the mucus threads in E. Sample from a CF piglet trachea. G Comparison of mucus bundle and mucus thread thickness in scanning electron micrographs. One data point represents the mean of 10 measurements per bundle or thread. Mucus threads were thinner than bundles in both WT and CF, Mann–Whitney test: WT bundles vs. WT threads P < 0.0001 ****, CF bundles vs. CF threads P = 0.0022 **. WT bundles: median 5.9 µm, 6 bundles (4 pigs), WT threads: median 0.47 µm, 13 threads (4 pigs), CF bundles: median 3.1 µm, 6 values (4 pigs), CF threads: median 0.46 µm, 6 values (4 pigs). Data presented as median with interquartile range. H The thread median thickness was 0.5 µm after fixation

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