Interactions between vagal afferent nerve subtypes mediating cough.
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.
Canning
Brendan J
BJ
Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. bjc@jhmi.edu
D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*