Table 2

Properties of chemosensor subtypes innervating the guinea pig airways.


C-Fiber
C-Fiber
Aδ-Fiber

Anatomical Characteristics:



Ganglionic Origin
Nodose
Jugular
Jugular
Extrapulmonary Termination
No
Yes
Yes
Intrapulmonary Termination
Yes
Yes
Few
Substance P Expression (%)1
Yes (50)
Yes (90–100)
No (0)
TRPV1 Expression2
Yes
Yes
Yes




Functional Characteristics:



Conduction Velocity (m/sec)
<1
<1
~6
Mechanical Threshold
High
High
High
Sensitive to:



     Punctate Mechanical
Yes3
Yes3
Yes3
     Capsaicin
Yes
Yes
Yes
     Hypertonic Saline
Unknown
Yes
Yes
     Bradykinin
Yes
Yes
Yes
     Acid
Yes
Yes
Yes
     Inflation (≤50 cmH2O)
No
No
No
     Deflation/Collapse
No
No
No
     Stretch
No
No
No
     Bronchoconstriction
No
No
No
     ATP
Yes
No
No
     Serotonin (5-HT)
Yes
No
Unknown
Reflex Effects on Respiration
Apnea4
Apnea4
Apnea4

1 Percentage of soma expressing substance P shown in parentheses [taken from ref 36]. 2 Functionally responsive to capsaicin and/or TRPV1 detected immunohistochemically. There is no data available indicating percentage of cells expressing TRPV1. 3 All airway afferents are responsive to punctate mechanical stimulation. However, the threshold for activation is approximately 100 fold higher for chemosensors compared to mechanosensors. 4 The basic respiratory reflex evoked by capsaicin is apnea or respiratory slowing, often proceeded by rapid shallow breathing. However, the precise reflex response evoked by each chemosensor subtype has not been described. See text for references.

Mazzone Cough 2005 1:2   doi:10.1186/1745-9974-1-2