NASAL REACTION TO CHANGES IN WHOLE-BODY TEMPERATURE

The changes in nasal patency following a 1.5-degrees-C decrease or inc rease in whole body temperature were measured in 8 healthy young males , during and after 30 min of immersion in a 15-degrees-C cold or a 40- degrees-C warm bath, breathing air at the same temperature, in a cross -over experimental design. The nasal reactions were traced by consecut ive measurements of changes in nasal cavity volumes by acoustic rhinom etry. Swelling of the mucosa during cooling and an almost maximal shri nkage of the mucosa during heating were indicated by respectively a de crease and an increase in nasal cavity volumes. The reactions were det ermined predominantly by the whole body thermal balance, but were also influenced by the temperature of the inhaled air, either enhanced, re duced or temporarily reversed. The greatest change occurred in the nas al cavity, left or right, which differed most from the final state at the beginning of exposure due to the actual state of nasal cycle.