Vascular and secretory effect of adrenoceptor agonists and peptides in the nose.

With two methods which in cats simultaneously recorded changes of blood flow through the mucosa of a nasal cavity and changes of the nasal patency in the same cavity, it was found that alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and the peptide, angiotensin constricted both the resistance and the capacitance vessels. Beta-adrenoceptor agonists and the peptide VIP dilated the vessels. Further, a filter paper method in dogs demonstrated that a large increase in nasal secretion was obtained with alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation in combination with methacholine, more than that with methacholine alone. Beta-adrenoceptor agonists seem to elicit a very scanty secretion. The peptide, substance P was also found to evoke a nasal secretion.