Responses to trigeminal irritants at different locations of the human nasal mucosa.
BACKGROUND
Previous work suggests differences in the distribution of human intranasal trigeminal receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate these topographic differences for different concentrations of different trigeminal irritants using an electrophysiologic measure of trigeminal activation, the negative mucosa potential (NMP).


METHODS
A total of 15 healthy volunteers participated. Presented by a computer-controlled olfactometer CO2 (30% and 40% v/v), ethyl acetate (5.5% and 9.3% v/v) and acetic acid (205 and 40% v/v) were used for stimulation. NMP was recorded at the middle septum, the middle turbinate, and the floor of the nasal cavity.


RESULTS
Maximum amplitudes of the NMP were found at the middle septum and were lowest at the nasal floor. Response amplitudes were related to stimulus concentrations. There was no significant difference between responses to the three different stimuli in relation to three recording sites.


CONCLUSIONS
In agreement with previous work, the present data suggest that there are topographic differences in the responsiveness of the mucosa to chemical irritants.
Scheibe
Mandy
M
Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, Dresden, Germany.
van Thriel
Christoph
C
Hummel
Thomas
T
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation
D000085:Acetates; D007509:Irritants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C007650:ethyl acetate