title: Effects of intranasal ZnSO4 irrigation on olfactory and trigeminal cues.
abstract: Intranasal irrigation with ZnSO4 solutions is used for experimental induction of anosmia. It is, however, unknown whether the trigeminal nerve is affected by the treatment. One day after irrigation (concentrations investigated were between 0.05-1%) the ability of food finding, an olfactory cue, was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The trigeminal effect was investigated from a reflexively induced decrease in respiratory rate due to n-propanol exposure. No impairment occurred at 1% ZnSO4. Anosmia was also seen 2-3 h after an irrigation with solutions of 0.05-1% ZnSO4. At the same time, 0.2 and 1% solutions in themselves decreased the respiratory rate due to reflexes from the upper and lower respiratory tract. A conspicuous systemic effect can be ruled out as the Zn++ antidote, CaNa2EDTA, had no effect on the decrease. A direct activation of the trigeminal nerve due to a reaction with a thiol group may explain the effect from the upper airways.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000433:1-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000294:innervation*; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013431:Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
chemical_list: D013431:Sulfates; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D000433:1-Propanol