Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026

In vitro Measurements of Tracheal Constriction Using Mice
Published on: June 25, 2012
Do cholinergic neurons directly innervate nasal blood vessels?
1Div. of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Abstract:
The main aim of this work was to provide additional evidence that cholinergic neurons can induce nasal vasodilation by inhibiting norepinephrine release, not by a direct action on nasal blood vessels. We induced a degeneration of the nasal sympathetic neurons in order to observe the effects of electrical stimulation of the cholinergic neurons on nasal blood vessels. Electrical stimulation had no measurable effect. One interpretation of this result is that cholinergic fibers control vasomotor tone by inhibiting the output of the sympathetic neurons, i.e., they have a presynaptic influence. However, it should be stressed that the data were obtained from in vitro experiments, which may not reflect the true in vivo processes. Additional evidence was obtained to demonstrate that electrical stimulation of the in vitro nasal tissue causes contraction by the release of norepinephrine from remnants of sympathetic nerve fibers remaining in the tissue. Also, there is no evidence of transganglionic degeneration in the cervical sympathetic nerve.
Related Concept Videos
Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission
Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Cranial Part of Parasympathetic Division
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) alone accounts for approximately 75...

