Effects of vidian nerve stimulation on the nasal and maxillary sinus mucosa

Histamine release from nasal mucosal mast cells in patients with chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis, after parasympathetic nerve stimulation

“…A cholinergic link between vidian nerve stimulation and the observed release of histamine is suggested by the reported evidence that atropine inhibits histamine release and eserine potentiates the effects due to the electrical stimulation. These observations are in perfect agreement with previous morphological observations in humans [25], where vidian nerve stimulation determined a vasodilatation of the deep venous and periglandular vascular supply, with an activitation of exocytotic activity of mast cells, mainly in the proximity of the glandular and vascular compartment [25], and with functional observations obtained in animal models [32,33]. It has been demonstrated that acetylcholine is a powerful histamine liberator in guinea pig [14] and rat mast cells [34]; but some contradictory data concern the cholinergic histamine release: in fact, a heterogenous pattern of mast cell sensitivity to acetylcholine has been identified in rat [15], guinea pig and human mast cells [14].…”

“…The imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic impulses to the vascular and stromal components of nasal mucosa and relative parasympathetic overactivity during attacks have been taken as causative events of the disease [23]. The vidian nerve provides the main parasympathetic nervous supply to the nasal respiratory and maxillary sinus mucosa, and its electrical stimulation causes apparent secretory and vasodilatatory effects in animals [24] and in humans [25], with typical exocytosis features of mucosal mast cells. The purpose of the experiments described in this paper is to strenghten the link between the cholinergic nervous system and tissue histamine stores, studying the effect of vidian nerve stimulation on histamine content and on the morphological features of mucosal mast cells.…”

Vidian nerve resection, histamine turnover and mucosal mast cell function in patients with chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis

“…This is consistent with the morphological data showing an increase in the density and secretory activity of mast cells. Vidian nerve resection induces not only a reduction in the secretory activity of the glands and vasoconstriction of the venous plexus [13,14] but also a significant decrease in histamine tissue levels and histidinedecarboxylase activity. This is associated with reductions in density and in the degranulation index of mast cells, which are frequently observed in heterophagous vacuoles of macrophages.…”

“…may depend upon the direct effect of neurogenic peptides (VIP; substance P) [2][3][4][5], and acetylcholine on blood vessels and secretory cells [3], and on indirect effects due to mast cell degranulation and histamine secretion elicited by acetylcholine and neurogenic peptides released from parasympathetic nerve endings [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Rucci et al [13] have demonstrated that stimulation of the vidian nerve in humans is able to induce significant structural and ultrastructural changes in the glandular, vascular and stromal components and in mast cells of the respiratory tract of nasal mucosa [12]. Moreover, there are experimental and clinical studies [14,15] claiming that vidian nerve resection relieves intractable "vasomotor rhinitis".…”

Mechanisms and mediators of nasal symptoms in non‐allergic rhinitis

“…A cholinergic link between vidian nerve stimulation and the observed release of histamine is further suggested by the reported inhibitory effect of atropine, and the potentiating effect of eserine on histamine release [68]. Vidian nerve section, as well as inducing a reduction in the secretory activity of the glands and vasoconstriction of the venous plexuses [72, 73], also appears to induce a significant decrease in histamine tissue levels and histidine decarboxylase activity [70]. This is associated with a reduction in density and in the degranulation index of mast cells [70].…”