Biomaterial Database

The central reciprocal control of nasal vasomotor oscillations. 1982

O S Bamford, and R Eccles

1. Nasal vasomotor oscillations were studied in 23 anaesthetised cats. The oscillations occurred in all cats and showed both respiratory (vasoconstriction in inspiration) and non-respiratory rhythms. In all cases the oscillations were asymmetrical between the two sides of the nose, and the side with greater oscillations also had a higher level of nasal vasoconstriction. 2. Oscillations shifted from one side to the other, both spontaneously and in response to stimulation of the brain-stem reticular formation. Induced shifts were nearly always to the stimulated side, and preceded by ipsilateral vasoconstriction and contralateral vasodilation. This reciprocal pattern was shown in 19 out of 89 responsive sites, and is similar to changes shown spontaneously in the nasal cycle. 3. Non-respiratory oscillations were seen at some time in most preparations and varied from frequency doubling to complete independence from respiration. 4. The evidence presented indicated that nasal vasomotor oscillations are driven from sympathetic oscillators which may be independent of, or can be entrained by, central respiratory activity. The oscillators show reciprocal inhibition, and electrical stimulation over a poorly-defined area of the brainstem reticular formation can shift the balance of activity between them, though responses from any one site depend on the existing state of the oscillating system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009666	Nose	A part of the upper respiratory tract. It contains the organ of SMELL. The term includes the external nose, the nasal cavity, and the PARANASAL SINUSES.	External Nose,External Noses,Nose, External,Noses,Noses, External
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013564	Sympathetic Nervous System	The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system.	Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D014666	Vasomotor System	The neural systems which act on VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE to control blood vessel diameter. The major neural control is through the sympathetic nervous system.	System, Vasomotor,Systems, Vasomotor,Vasomotor Systems