title: Antihypertensive role of glossopharyngeal nerve stimulation by nifedipine using as calcium channel blocking agent in hypertension: an experimental study.
abstract: Nifedipine is a therapeutic drug in acute attacks of hypertension because of its rapid absorption from oral mucosa. Taste receptors are innervated by glossopharyngeal nerves (GPN) as well as by facial and vagal nerves. Sensory neurons of the GPNs are localised in the petrous ganglion (PG). Transection of the taste sensitive GPN fibres causes taste bud and PG degeneration and spontaneous hypertension. In this study, the role of chemical stimulation of the taste buds of the GPN by nifedipine and its role in treatment of hypertension were investigated in rabbits. Nifedipine was dropped sublingually (20 mg) for 4 days in the study group, followed by measuring blood pressures again. Then, the lingual branches of GPNs were cut. One month later, blood pressures were measured for 4 days. All animals were sacrificed humanely at the end of the experiment, and normal and degenerated neuron densities in the petrosal ganglions were enumerated stereologically. The antihypertensive effect of nifedipine decreased after GPNs denervation, in accordance with the increase of degenerated neurons in the PG. The chemical stimulation of taste buds of the GPNs by nifedipine may be an important effect of nifedipine application in addition to its calcium channel blocking effect. The rapid decrease in blood pressure following sublingual use of nifedipine may also result from the direct stimulation of taste buds innervated by the GPNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. nmda11@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mehmet Dumlu
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ednan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Zekai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halici
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Hizir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulvi
authors.forename: Dilcan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotan
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000378:metabolism; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine