Neurogenic inflammation.
The main elements of neurogenic inflammation in the skin--antidromic vasodilatation, axon reflex flare and neurogenic plasma extravasation--are briefly described. New evidence is presented for a contribution from small myelinated fibres, as well as unmyelinated fibres, to antidromic vasodilatation. The mechanisms underlying flare are discussed and it is argued that weak coupling between C-fibre terminals must be important in determining the extent of spread of vasodilatation. The extent to which neurogenic factors contribute to a range of inflammatory models and to inflammatory disease states is discussed; it is argued that the importance of neurogenic mechanisms may have been underestimated.
Lynn
B
B
Department of Physiology, University College, London, UK.
D000818:Animals; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D014664:Vasodilation