Neural control of airway mucus secretion

Neural mechanisms contribute to the control of secretion of mucus in the airways of a number of animal species including humans. The nerves involved are adrenergic, cholinergic and non-adrenergic, non cholinergic (NANC) and contribute to greater or lesser degrees, depending upon the species, to secretion from submucosal glands and epithelial goblet cells. Experimental studies implicate abnormalities in neural control in the pathophysiology of certain bronchial diseases in humans which are associated with mucus hypersecretion. New observations indicate a number of novel interventions with therapeutic potential for control of mucus in chronic bronchitis and asthma.