Nasal mucosa reaction, catecholamines and lactate during physical exercise.

The relation between changes in mucosal congestion, as studied by rhinostereometry, and blood concentrations of lactate, epinephrine and nor-epinephrine was studied in 7 volunteers during physical exercise to effort maximum and a subsequent rest period. In 6 volunteers the mucosa decongested evenly during exercise. The concentration of nor-epinephrine began to rise when half of the mucosal decongestion ability was utilized, but the concentrations of lactate and epinephrine did not rise until almost maximal decongestion was established. When exercise ceased the mucosa recongested rapidly and parallel to the decrease of the epinephrine and nor-epinephrine concentrations. The lactate concentrations remained at a high level until the mucosa had recongested considerably. In two of three tests of the remaining volunteer, after an initial partial decongestion, the mucosa began to recongest during continued exercise but the concentration of lactate, epinephrine and nor-epinephrine increased as in the other 6 volunteers. The present results support the view that nasal mucosa decongestion during exercise is due to sympathetic stimulus, but also show that there may exist a congestive stimulus stronger than the sympathetic stimulus. This latter observation implies the need for direct control of the nasal mucosa congestion during rhinological studies.