NANC neural control of airway smooth muscle tone

1. This review addresses the functional role of the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) neural response in the control of airway smooth muscle tone. 2. Functional data from guinea pig airways in vitro indicate that the level of basal smooth muscle tone determines the direction and magnitude of the NANC neural response such that it can stabilise tone. 3. The NANC stabilising effect on tone is adjustable through variation in impulse frequency and the NANC stabilising effect is also powerful; it can abolish near-maximum differences in tone. 4. Cholinergic activation increases the level towards which the NANC responses tend to adjust tone. 5. Adrenergic activation reduces the level towards which the NANC responses tend to adjust tone via beta-adrenoceptors. 6. NANC neural activation, with or without simultaneous adrenergic or cholinergic activation, can stabilise tone at low, intermediate or high levels with a high degree of accuracy. 7. Evidence from other investigators on effects of putative NANC neurotransmitters supports the idea of functional interactions within the NANC system in the airways. 8. It remains to be confirmed whether or not NANC responses play a stabilising role in the control of airway smooth muscle tone in vivo and in higher mammals.