Temperature conditioning of nasal air: effects of vasoactive agents and involvement of nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide (NO) is released into nasal air, but its function is unknown. We hypothesized that nasal vascular tone and/or flow influences temperature conditioning of nasal air and that NO participates in this process. We measured nasal air temperature (via a thermocouple) and exhaled nasal NO release (by chemiluminescence) in five humans and examined the effects of an aerosolized vasoconstrictor (oxymetazoline), a vasodilator (papaverine), N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NO synthase, or saline (control). Compared with saline (which caused no changes in nasal air temperature or exhaled NO release), oxymetazoline (0.05%) reduced nasal air temperature and NO release (130.8 +/- 15.1 to 81.3 +/- 12.8 nl. min(-1). m(-2); P < 0.01). Papaverine (0.01 M) increased nasal air temperature and NO release (131.8 +/- 13.1 to 157.2 +/- 17.4 nl. min(-1). m(-2); P < 0.03). N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester reduced nasal air temperature and NO release (123.7 +/- 14.2 to 44.2 +/- 23.7 nl. min(-1). m(-2); P < 0.01). The results suggest that vascular tone and/or flow modulates temperature conditioning and that NO may participate in that function.
Holden
W E
WE
Medical Service, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. holden.williame@portland.va.gov
Wilkins
J P
JP
Harris
M
M
Milczuk
H A
HA
Giraud
G D
GD
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010109:Oxymetazoline / Q000494:pharmacology; D010208:Papaverine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D013696:Temperature; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010109:Oxymetazoline; D010208:Papaverine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester