A simple quantitative method to measure nasal secretion in guinea pigs is described. Nasal secretion was measured with a piece of cotton thread dyed with fluorescein at one end which was inserted into an anterior naris and kept there for 60 s. The stretch of color of a thread dyed with fluorescein was proportional to fluid volume and to increase in weight of a thread due to absorbed nasal secretion induced by nasal provocation. In addition, the stretch of color due to nasal secretion was associated with the score of rhinorrhea. Thus, it is considered that the amount of nasal secretion can be reflected to the length of the stretch of color. Each secretion on the ipsilateral and the contralateral sides induced by nasal provocation could be separately measured by this method. The amount of nasal secretion induced by allergen in passively sensitized guinea pigs could be reduced by pretreatment with ketotifen or flutropium. These results suggest that our method may serve as a quantitative test for nasal secretion in guinea pigs, which would be useful in the study of hypersecretory response in the allergic model or in evaluating the effect of antiallergic drugs on nasal allergy.

In order to confirm the mechanism of nasal secretion mediated via a nerve reflex in guinea pigs, the secretory response from the contralateral side was studied which was induced by local application of various stimulators. There was no difference in the nasal secretion between the contralateral and the stimulated sides when the secretion was induced by allergen, histamine, and capsaicin at lower doses. Methacholine caused a nasal secretion only on the stimulated side. Pretreatment with local anesthetic and ganglionic blockers blocked the secretory response bilaterally which was induced by allergen, histamine, and capsaicin. Antihistaminics also blocked the secretory response induced by allergen and histamine on both sides, but not the capsaicin-induced nasal secretion. Unilateral pretreatment with local anticholinergics prevented all secretory responses only on the stimulated side. Thus, exogenous and endogenous histamine released by the allergen-antibody reaction may stimulate histamine H₁ receptors located in the sensory nerve endings as trigger, resulting in the secretory response mediated via a nerve reflex, while methacholine may act directly on nasal glands. Ketotifen and azelastine, which are chemical mediators releasing inhibitor with antihistaminergic activity, prevented the nasal secretion induced by histamine and allergen. On the other hand, disodium cromoglycate, amlexanox, and tranilast had only a slight effect on the allergen-induced nasal secretion. The secretory response on the contralateral side induced by various stimulators would be useful in the in vivo evaluation of antiallergic drugs to demonstrate the difference in their modes of action.

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We examined the inhibitory effect of half-face masks on inhalations of particles of carbon powder and Japanese cedar pollen from the point of view of preventing nasal manifestation in pollinosis patients. The subjects tried out two types of simple masks commonly sold at drug stores or supermarket chains. With each type of mask, two different sizes of carbon particles and Japanese cedar pollen (which were dispersed in canisters) were inhaled by the subjects, and the particles inside and outside the mask were counted. The face masks inhibited inhalation of particles in air, and these simple economical cotton gauze masks, if used dampened with plain water, were comparable in effect to more expensive industrial masks.

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