Biomaterial Database

Nasal receptors responding to noxious chemical irritants. 1994

S I Sekizawa, and H Tsubone

Department of Comparative Pathophysiology, University of Tokyo, Japan.

This study was performed to investigate the chemoreception of trigeminal afferents in the nose. Single unit activity was recorded from the anterior ethmoidal nerve in the anesthetized guinea pig breathing through a tracheostomy during nasal instillation of capsaicin (0.3 mM), nicotine (6 mM) and ammonia (1.5 M) solutions or with distilled water. Out of 36 fibers recorded, nineteen were stimulated by capsaicin, six by nicotine and seventeen by ammonia. Among those fibers, two were stimulated by both capsaicin and nicotine, six by both capsaicin and ammonia and one nicotine-responsive fiber was also stimulated by ammonia. A large proportion of capsaicin- and nicotine-responsive fibers exhibited long lasting discharges (170.4 +/- 17.7 sec and 120.7 +/- 29.3 sec, respectively), and were not stimulated by the second application of the same substance. However, fibers responding to ammonia discharged for a shorter time (31.5 +/- 6.5 sec), indicating a rapid adaptation. These results indicate that the ethmoidal nerve possesses a well-developed responsiveness to noxious stimuli. The nociceptive component of this nerve may be related to the various cardiorespiratory responses that can be elicited from the nasal cavity and also to local axonal reflexes (neurogenic inflammation) due to the release of chemical mediators from C-fiber endings.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009296	Nasal Cavity	The proximal portion of the respiratory passages on either side of the NASAL SEPTUM. Nasal cavities, extending from the nares to the NASOPHARYNX, are lined with ciliated NASAL MUCOSA.	Nasal Cavities,Cavities, Nasal,Cavity, Nasal
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D002211	Capsaicin	An alkylamide found in CAPSICUM that acts at TRPV CATION CHANNELS.	8-Methyl-N-Vanillyl-6-Nonenamide,Antiphlogistine Rub A-535 Capsaicin,Axsain,Capsaicine,Capsicum Farmaya,Capsidol,Capsin,Capzasin,Gelcen,Katrum,NGX-4010,Zacin,Zostrix,8 Methyl N Vanillyl 6 Nonenamide,NGX 4010,NGX4010
D002628	Chemoreceptor Cells	Cells specialized to detect chemical substances and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Chemoreceptor cells may monitor external stimuli, as in TASTE and OLFACTION, or internal stimuli, such as the concentrations of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE in the blood.	Chemoreceptive Cells,Cell, Chemoreceptive,Cell, Chemoreceptor,Cells, Chemoreceptive,Cells, Chemoreceptor,Chemoreceptive Cell,Chemoreceptor Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000641	Ammonia	A colorless alkaline gas. It is formed in the body during decomposition of organic materials during a large number of metabolically important reactions. Note that the aqueous form of ammonia is referred to as AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE.
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