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Effects of cocaine on human nasal mucosa
1Department of Otolaryngology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Abstract:
The effects of cocaine on the contractile response of isolated human nasal mucosal blood vessels to field stimulation and methoxamine were investigated. Results showed that cocaine antagonized methoxamine and inhibited field stimulation. The drug increased resting tension in human nasal mucosa in vitro through direct actions and potentiated mucosal contractions by norepinephrine and epinephrine. The study indicated that high concentrations of cocaine may actually antagonize alpha-adrenoceptors, but these concentrations are not necessary in eliciting desired degrees of vasoconstriction in nasal blood vessels while being applied as a local anesthetic.