Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 74, Issue 6 2661-2671, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Comparison of the secretory response of the nasal mucosa to methacholine and histamine

F. M. Baroody, M. Wagenmann and R. M. Naclerio
Department of Medicine (Division of Clinical Immunology), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

To better understand the secretory response of the nasal mucosa, we must be able to accurately measure its physiological response. To this end, we developed a localized challenge technique using paper disks to stimulate the mucosa on one side and measure secretions from both sides to study both direct and reflex responses. Both methacholine and histamine induced a dose-dependent increase in secretion weights on the challenge side, whereas only histamine induced a contralateral reflex. Repeated stimulation with histamine, but not methacholine, resulted in tachyphylaxis. Pretreatment with atropine resulted in inhibition of the contralateral secretory response to histamine and the ipsilateral response to methacholine with only partial inhibition of the ipsilateral histamine response. Terfenadine pretreatment resulted in the complete inhibition of both the ipsilateral and contralateral responses to histamine with no effect on methacholine-induced secretions. Ipsilaterally applied lidocaine had no effect on the histamine response but, when applied contralaterally, partially inhibited that response. Topical diphenhydramine applied ipsilaterally led to significant inhibition of the ipsilateral and contralateral secretory responses to histamine but had no effect when applied contralaterally. We conclude that methacholine and histamine have different effects on the nasal mucosa. We speculate that methacholine stimulates glands directly, whereas histamine includes both direct and neurogenic stimulation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Sahin-Yilmaz, J. M. Pinto, M. de Tineo, S. Elwany, and R. M. Naclerio Familial aggregation of nasal conditioning capacity J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2007; 103(3): 1078 - 1081. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Pinto, P. Assanasen, F. M. Baroody, E. Naureckas, J. Solway, and R. M. Naclerio Treatment of Nasal Inflammation Decreases the Ability of Subjects with Asthma to Condition Inspired Air Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2004; 170(8): 863 - 869. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. ASSANASEN, F. M. BAROODY, E. NAURECKAS, J. SOLWAY, and R. M. NACLERIO The Nasal Passage of Subjects with Asthma Has a Decreased Ability to Warm and Humidify Inspired Air Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 2001; 164(9): 1640 - 1646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Baroody, A. Gungor, M. deTineo, L. Haney, C. Blair, and R. M. Naclerio Comparison of the response to histamine challenge of the nose and the maxillary sinus: effect of loratadine J Appl Physiol, September 1, 1999; 87(3): 1038 - 1047. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Sanico, G. Philip, G. K. Lai, and A. Togias Hyperosmolar saline induces reflex nasal secretions, evincing neural hyperresponsiveness in allergic rhinitis J Appl Physiol, April 1, 1999; 86(4): 1202 - 1210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Baroody, S. Ford, D. Proud, A. Kagey-Sobotka, L. Lichtenstein, and R. M. Naclerio Relationship between histamine and physiological changes during the early response to nasal antigen provocation J Appl Physiol, February 1, 1999; 86(2): 659 - 668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. BAROODY, P. ROUADI, P. V. DRISCOLL, B. S. BOCHNER, and R. M. NACLERIO Intranasal Beclomethasone Reduces Allergen-induced Symptoms and Superficial Mucosal Eosinophilia without Affecting Submucosal Inflammation Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 1, 1998; 157(3): 899 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]