Nasal receptors responding to cold and l-menthol airflow in the guinea pig

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of nasal 'cold' receptors, through recordings of action potentials from the ethmoidal nerve (EN), in guinea pigs and to characterize their responsiveness to l-menthol and capsaicin. Constant flows (400 ml/min) of room air (20 degrees C), warm air (45 degrees C), room air containing l-menthol, and cold air (-5 degrees C) were directed into the nasal cavity in the inspiratory direction via a nasopharyngeal catheter in the anesthetized guinea pigs breathing spontaneously through a tracheostomy. The ethmoidal afferent activity was increased by cold air, and to a greater extent by l-menthol but hardly by warm air. After topical anesthesia of the nasal cavity with 2% lidocaine, cold air and l-menthol no longer stimulated the EN. L-menthol noticeably stimulated the EN even after repeated capsaicin instillation into the nose, but these values were lower than those following the l-menthol stimulus before the 1st capsaicin treatment. These results suggest that the ethmoidal nerve in guinea pigs has cold-sensitive receptors which consist of both small myelinated fibers and C-fiber endings.