OPERATIONAL MECHANISMS OF AIRWAY RECEPTORS

该建议是为了继续我们的工作， 受体和这项工作的扩展到其他地区的 上呼吸道（咽、鼻）， 传入神经支配方面的知识。 实验 方案（目标#1）将研究喉感受器的特性 对已知的物理和化学性质的刺激物有反应， 引起咳嗽和/或支气管收缩。 另一个方案（目标#2） 将验证改变喉部反应的可能性， 冷受体通过改变局部灌注。 局部炎症 过程可以改变受体功能， 反射 将使用相同的协议来确定 薄荷醇作为喉冷感受器的刺激物的特异性。 如果有效，这种物质可用作研究 这些结局的反射效应。 实验方案 设计用于咽部（目标3）和鼻部（目标4）研究 受体是基于我们以前的工作对喉和将 确定上呼吸道这些区域中是否存在 压力、温度和肌肉收缩感应末梢。 这 不同的信息可能会发挥重要作用， 保持气道通畅的机制。 目标#5（Aim #5） 关于环甲肌在改变上 气道阻力 使用可逆性麻痹， 其他喉肌，当动物自主呼吸时， 应该提供新的可靠证据 这个活动 在喉返神经病例中有用或有害的肌肉 瘫痪？

The proposal is for a continuation of our work on laryngeal receptors and an extension of this work to other regions of the upper airway (pharynx, nose) for which there is a substantial lack of knowledge in terms of afferent innervation. An experimental protocol (Aim #1) will study the properties of laryngeal receptors responding to irritant of physical and chemical nature known to cause cough and/or bronchoconstriction. Another protocol (Aim #2) will verify the possibility of changing the response of laryngeal cold receptors by changing the local perfusion. Local inflammatory processes could alter receptor function and thus the corresponding reflexes. The same protocol will be used to ascertain the specificity of menthol as a stimulant of laryngeal cold receptors. If effective this substance could be used as a tool to study the reflex effects of these endings. The experimental protocols designed for the study of pharyngeal (Aim #3) and nasal (Aim #4) receptors are based on our previous work on the larynx and will ascertain the presence in these areas of the upper airway of pressure, temperature and muscle contraction sensing endings. This fferent information is likely to play a significant role in the mechanisms preserving airway patency. The last project (Aim #5) concerns the role of the cricothyroid muscle in modifying upper airway resistance. The use of reversible paralysis of this and other laryngeal muscles, while the animal breathes spontaneously, should provide new and reliable evidence. Is the activity of this muscle useful or detrimental in cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis?