title: Effect of age on the sensitivity of upper airway reflexes.
abstract: We have recorded the threshold concentration of inhaled ammonia vapour required to elicit reflex glottic closure (NH3TR) in 102 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (39 female) aged 17-96 yr in order to assess the effect of age upon upper airway reflex sensitivity. A single measurement of sensitivity was made in each subject using a system delivering small concentrations of ammonia vapour for single intermittent breaths to the upper airway and recording glottic closure using an inspiratory pneumotachograph. We found a strong positive correlation between age and NH3TR, indicating a decrease in upper airway reflex sensitivity with increasing age.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Anaesthesia, Leicester Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Erskine
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Langton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia