Vagotomy decreases the neuronal activities of medulla oblongata and alleviates neurogenic inflammation of airways induced by repeated intra-esophageal instillation of HCl in guinea pigs.

摘要

Neuronal activity in the medulla oblongata and neurogenicinflammation of airways were investigated in a guinea pig modelinduced by repeated intra-esophageal instillation of hydrochloricacid (HCl) after vagotomy. Unilateral vagotomy was performed inthe vagotomy group, while a sham-operation was performed inthe sham group. Operation was not conducted in sham controlgroup. Airway inflammation was observed with hematoxylinand eosin (HE) staining. C-fos protein was measured byimmunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB). SubstanceP was examined by IHC and enzyme-linked immuno sorbentassay (ELISA). Airway microvascular permeability was detectedby evans blue dye (EBD) fluorescence. Inflammation of airwaywas observed in the trachea and bronchi after chronicHCl perfusion into the lower esophagus, and was alleviated afterunilateral vagotomy. C-fos expression in the medulla oblongatawas lower in the vagotomy group compared to the sham controland sham groups. Substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-li),concentration and microvascular leakage in airway were lower inthe vagotomy group than that in the other groups. Our resultssuggest that vagotomy improved neurogenic inflammation ofairways and decreased neuronal activities, the afferent nervesand neurons in medulla oblongata may be involved in neurogenicinflammation of airways mediated by esophageal-bronchial reflex.