Ke. Pedersen et al., SELECTIVE STIMULATION OF JUGULAR GANGLION AFFERENT NEURONS IN GUINEA-PIG AIRWAYS BY HYPERTONIC SALINE, Journal of applied physiology, 84(2), 1998, pp. 499-506
We evaluated the ability of hyperosmolar stimuli to activate afferent
nerves in the guinea pig trachea and main bronchi and investigated the
neural pathways involved. By using electrophysiological techniques, s
tudies in vitro examined the effect of hyperosmolar solutions of sodiu
m chloride (hypertonic saline) on guinea pig airway afferent nerve end
ings arising from either vagal nodose or jugular ganglia. The data rev
eal a differential sensitivity of airway afferent neurons to activatio
n with hypertonic saline. Afferent fibers (both A delta and C fibers)
with cell bodies located in jugular ganglia were much more sensitive t
o stimulation with hypertonic saline, compared with afferent neurons w
ith cell bodies located in nodose ganglia. Additional studies in vivo
demonstrated that inhalation of aerosols of hypertonic saline induced
plasma extravasation in guinea pig trachea that was mediated via tachy
kinin NK1 receptors. Identification of a differential sensitivity of g
uinea pig airway afferent nerves to hypertonic saline leads to the spe
culation that airway responses to hyperosmolar stimuli may result from
activation of afferent neurons originating predominantly from the jug
ular ganglion.