P. Fontanari et al., CHANGES IN AIRWAY-RESISTANCE INDUCED BY NASAL INHALATION OF COLD DRY,DRY, OR MOIST AIR IN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS, Journal of applied physiology, 81(4), 1996, pp. 1739-1743
Nasopulmonary bronchomotor reflexes elicited by mechanical or irritant
stimulation of the nose have been described in animals and asthmatic
patients. However, few studies were devoted to the consequences of nas
al breathing of cold and dry air or of only dry or only moist air on t
he bronchomotor control in normal individuals. The present study repor
ted changes in interruption resistance (Rint) measured during eupneic
breathing of moderately cold (-4 or -10 degrees C) and dry [0.3% relat
ive humidity (RH)] air or of room air at 23 degrees C that is either d
ry (0.3% RH) or moist (97% RH). Nasal inhalation of cold (-4 degrees C
) dry air or of only dry air significantly increased baseline Rint val
ue (17 and 21%, respectively) throughout the 15-min test periods. The
response to cold was significantly accentuated when the air temperatur
e was lowered to -10 degrees C (42%). After nasal anesthesia or inhala
tion of a cholinergic antagonist, cold air did not induce a change in
Rint. Nasal inhalation of moist room air had no effect. No Rint change
s were measured during oral breathing of the three test agents. It is
concluded that the activation of cold receptors or osmoreceptors in th
e nasal mucosa induces protective bronchoconstrictor responses in norm
al individuals.