title: Interactions between vagal afferent nerve subtypes mediating cough.
abstract: The cough reflex is initiated through activation of vagal afferent nerves. Rapidly adapting receptors fulfill all criteria for the afferents subserving the cough reflex. Bronchopulmonary C-fibres may also initiate cough when activated. C-fibre-mediated cough may depend upon ongoing or initiated activity in rapidly adapting receptors. The interaction between airways C-fibres and rapidly adapting receptors may occur at sites in the periphery or in the brainstem. C-fibre mediated cough must also overcome a coincident inhibitory effect of C-fibre activation on cough, an inhibitory effect that becomes prominent under general anesthaesia.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. bjc@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Canning
mesh_terms: D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*